Bangkok--16 Aug--Hill & Knowlton
Marsun has been a key player in bringing a range of shipbuilding services to the Gulf of Thailand and is building and supporting an ever widening range of vessels, including Rolls-Royce propelled fast assault craft
Over its 30-year history Marsun Company Limited has developed a strong reputation as a leading shipbuilder specialising in the construction of naval, para military and commercial vessels, and in repair and refit. Situated at Muang, in the province of Samut Prakan on the eastern side of the mouth of the Chao Phraya River some 35km south east of Bangkok in Thailand, Marsun has over its short history continued to expand the range of vessels that can be designed and built in the country.
Founded in 1980, Marsun is a local company that has evolved from humble beginnings as a fibreglass boat builder, to become a shipyard capable of providing a complete service in both newbuilding in steel, aluminium or composites, and ship repair services for vessels up to 100m in length. Quality is a key focus and quality accreditation is to ISO 9001. The scope of services includes vessel design and build, refits/conversions, maintenance and engineering as well as financial planning and turnkey project management.
Located strategically on Thailand’s coast and close to Bangkok, Marsun is one of the leading shipyards in the country. In the last 30 years, close to 235 new vessels for naval and commercial sectors have been delivered, and a wide range of vessels repaired. One of the most recent deliveries was two Landing Craft for the Royal Thai Navy in late 2010. The craft were designed in-house at Marsun and were delivered following the contract award in September 2008.
Today Marsun’s facilities include a number of fabrication shops, a covered assembly workshop of 6,500m?, and a building berth of 7,000m?, which is suitable for outfitting and launching vessels up to 100m in length. Next to the building berth is an area reserved for a slipway capable of handling vessels up to 3,000t.
Marsun recognises the important role played by suppliers in the production of world class ships and has enjoyed a positive, long-term relationship with Rolls-Royce.
One of the recent success stories for Marsun is the design and construction of four 18.3m aluminium fast assault ships now in service with the Royal Thai Navy and based at the Sattahip naval base, around 180km south east of Bangkok, not far from some of the countries key tourist destinations.
Powered by twin 956kW diesels each driving a Kamewa FF450S waterjet, the M18 assault craft have a top speed of around 43 knots and a cruising speed of 35 knots. When fully loaded they can operate safely in very shallow waters. A crash stop takes around 12 seconds and they can turn on their own axis. The Rolls-Royce Vector Stick control system simplifies vessel operation making the craft highly manoeuvrable and responsive at all speeds.
The missions for which the craft were designed includes protection of territorial waters, law enforcement in littoral waters and the high sea, as well as the protection of ports, rivers, offshore and shore based facilities. They can also be used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Up to 18 fully equipped special-forces troops can be carried together with a crew of three. To provide the necessary flexibility for the wide range of operations that need to be undertaken, two RIBS are carried on the aft-deck. They can be launched and recovered at loitering speeds using the inclined ramp. The operating radius for the vessels is around 300 nautical miles.
The hydraulically operated bow ramp means that, when required, special-forces can be put ashore for landing parties, or retrieved from a beach with their equipment. In fact, the reinforced bow, bow ramp and waterjet propulsion enables the craft to be ‘beached’ at speed, to put men ashore quickly and efficiently.
For further information please contactRachit Puttipong
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Tel: + 66 (0)2 627 3501 ext. 204
Fax: + 66 (0)2 627 3510
Email:
[email protected]