Hyundai Heavy Industries completes world's first 'on-ground' built vessel

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2005

SEOUL (AFP) — South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Co. is set to deliver the world's first vessel constructed on land instead of in a dry dock in what it claimed was a technical breakthrough.

The 105,000-tonne crude oil tanker, named NS Challenger, will be handed over to Russia's Novoship on Saturday, HHI said.

The NS Challenger, some 244 meters (805 feet) long, was the first ship constructed using the new "on-ground build" method, the firm said.

Ships are usually built and assembled on a dry dock, a facility similar to a huge swimming pool without water. The dock is then filled up with water to float the ships and launch it into the sea.

"We have a three-year backlog and our nine dry docks are already fully booked while owners cannot wait...