DRAMMEN, October 8, 2010

L-3 Valmarine has been awarded another contract with STX France for delivery of an Integrated Automation System to their newbuilding X32, a cruiseliner for General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) of Libya.

As part of previously announced contract for new building U32 at STX France, St. Nazaire, L-3 Valmarine has received a firm order for the option ship, newbuilding X32. - The 139,400 ton vessel will be 333 meters long by 38 meters wide and include 1,739 passenger cabins and 732 crew cabins, with delivery scheduled for December 2012, and the first to be owned by an Arab Company.

Founded in 1975, GNMTC, operates a fleet of 24 vessels, whose average age is 3.5 years, with a carrying capacity of 2 million tonnes – the equivilant of 14 million barrels of oil, operating in international and the domestic Libyan market, carrying oil and oil related products. Over the years GNMTC has invested 1.3 billion USD, of which 690 million was invested in 2009, purchasing 12 vessels.

This investment marks the re-entry into the passenger sector by GNMTC, and illustrates its aim of being a major player in the Shipping Sector.

STX France is delighted to welcome back such a distinguished client with one of the most luxurious vessels to be built in their modern Saint-Nazaire yard. “We are proud to welcome this new client on our Saint-Nazaire shipyard and therefore contribute to the expansion of GNMTC activities” Jacques Hardelay, General Manager of STX France, declares.

The chairman of GNMTC, Captain Ali Belhag, said that ‘ GNMTC was pleased to place this order with STX France, being the first Arab and Middle East state to own such a prestigious vessel, which marked another milestone, in the company’s re-generation, and looked forward to further success in other sectors of the maritime industry’.

Note: This article replaces the previous published article on the subject which contained wrongful facts about the newbuilding X-32.