COSCO YANTIAN

Today the Cosco Yantian will have the honour to appear as Ship of the Day. The Cosco Yantian (IMO: 9305594, Port of Registry: Piraeus, Greece) is one of the largest container vessels nowadays, together with its sisters: Cosco Hellas, Cosco Ningbo, Cosco Beijing and Cosco Guangzhou. Only the in 2005 and 2006 built Maersk S-class vessels (amongst which are the Emma Maersk, Estelle Maersk and Eleonora Maersk) and three in 2006 for CSCL built containervessels are larger. This post-panamax container vessel is 350 metres long, almost 43 metres wide, has a deadweight tonnage of 107,000 and a teu capacity of 9,450. The Cosco Yantian is currently sailing on the AE1-loop which connects Asia and Europe. She has arrived last night at the ECT Terminal, Rotterdam, with the last port of call at Singapore. The vessel will leave tomorrow for Felixstowe, Hamburg and Antwerp before returning to the Far East.

RHINE FOREST

The Liberian flagged Rhine Forest (IMO: 7125706) is 237 meters long, 33 meters wide and has a draught of 12 meters. The vessel is a so called LASH ship. LASH, an acronym for Lighter Aboard SHip, vessels each carry about 82 LASH barges. The barges, all of a standard size with cargo capacity of 385 tons, are towed in ports and on inland waterways to various shipping points where they are loaded with cargo and then returned to the oceangoing vessel. They are hoisted aboard by a special shipboard gantry-type crane and transported overseas where the process is reversed. LASH ships do not require special docks or terminals.

The Rhine Forest is equipped with a 500-ton gantry crane to lift and stow 83 barges. Each barge is 18.26 meters long and 9.16 meters wide and has a capacity of 385 metric tons. She was built in 1972 by Cockerill Mechanical Industries, Belgium and is currently owned by LCI Shipholding Inc., New Orleans and managed by Central Gulf Lines Inc., New Orleans.

The Rhine Forest has entered Rotterdam this morning and is currently moored at the Waalhaven for a few days. The vessel will then leave for New Orleans and will return to Rotterdam in 6 weeks

For more great pictures of the Rhine Forest see the (Dutch) site of Peter Bolhuis: http://members.lycos.nl/scheepvaart/fourdescphotos3.html

RAMFORM EXPLORER

The Ramform Explorer (IMO: 9118472) is a sistership of the Atlantic Explorer, which was SotD on September 7, 2006. The Ramform Explorer is a seismographic research ship owned by PGS Geophysical AS and is capable of detecting all kinds of underground fields, such as oil fields by using 3D techniques (More information at the PGS website or the above link of the Atlantic Explorer). Streamer seismic has been the keystone of PGS' services from the beginning. With six Ramform vessels complemented by four “standard” seismic vessels, PGS has understandably established a leading global track record for 3D operational efficiency and innovation.
The impact of the PGS Ramform technology on marine seismic exploration is uncontested. The Ramform design produces performance levels and efficiencies that continue to set new industry standards for high-technology seismic acquisition. Today approximately 80% of the world’s advanced technology seismic surveys have been acquired using PGS Ramforms — the most advanced seismic fleet afloat.

This boat launched the Ramform class and was the first ever seismic vessel to tow eight streamers, the first to acquire over 1,000 square kilometers in a month, the first to tow 12 streamers and the first to acquire 100 square kilometers in a single day.

The Ramform Explorer is expected to enter the port of Rotterdam this afternoon and will berth at the Waalhaven.

CHICAGO EXPRESS

The Chicago Express (IMO: 9295268, Port of Registry: Hamburg) is 336 metres long, 43 metres wide, has a maximum draught of 14.5 metres, a deadweight tonnage of 104,000 and a teu capacity of 8750. She was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea and is currently owned by Hapag Lloyd, Germany for whom she is currently deployed on the EU3 service between China and Europe. Her sister vessels are the Kyoto Express and Colombo Express.

The Chicago Express is scheduled to enter the Port of Rotterdam later this afternoon with the last port of call at Hamburg. She will depart tomorrow with destination Port Kelang, Malaysia and will return to Rotterdam within two months.

ALSTER N

The Alster N (IMO: 8418162, Port of Registry: Panama, Ex.name: Alster Ore) is a bulk carrier owned by General Ore Carrier Corporation III limited, Panama and managed by Neu Seeschiffahrt GmbH, Germany. The vessel was built in 1988 by China Shipbuilding Corporation, Taiwan. Her sister vessel is the Ruhr N. Other bulk carriers managed by Neu Seeschiffahrt are: Faith N and Alfred N. The Alster N is 340 metres long, 57 metres wide and has a maximum draught of 22 metres. All these dimensions ensure a deadweight tonnage of 305,893.
The Alster N will enter the Port of Rotterdam later today with a last port of call at Saldanha Bay, South Africa. She will be berthed at the EECV terminal and will stay there for about 5 days discharging iron ore.

GRACE N

Bulk carrier Grace N (Port of Registry: Monrovia, Liberia, IMO: 8118267) has a deadweight tonnage of 224.222, is 312 meters long, 50 meters wide and has a maximum draught of 20 meters. She has 9 holds and hatches and was built in 1983 by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Ind. Co., Japan. Until about two years ago, the vessel was known as the Elbe Ore. Before that she was named the Frontier Maru. The Grace N is owned by General Ore Carrier Corporation IX and managed by Neu Seeschiffahrt GmbH, Hamburg, Germany.

The Grace N is expected to arrive later this evening at the EMO Bulk Terminal, Rotterdam from Tubarao, Brasil carrying a shipment of coal.

SEVAN HUMMINGBIRD

The Sevan Hummingbird (IMO: 9417103, Port of Registry: Nassau) is a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading platform (FPSO), which is used as a floating production and storage for hydrocarbons.The hydrocarbons are stored in tanks in the hull of the platform and are transported by shuttletankers or by pipe line to onshore refineries. The hull is fitted with machinery, power generators, transformators, electric boards, fire control systems, ballast pumps and cargo pumps.

Source: Sevan Marine

The main components on deck are living quarters with control rooms, workshop, life vessels, helipad, cranes, on- and offloading system for oil, and anchorwinches.

The FPSO also has a processing plant for hydrocarbons installed on deck. Depending on characteristics of the field, the processing plant has different modules for processing oil, gas, and water.

There is also a power generating module that delivers power to the platforms additional machinery. The processing module has an oil production capacity of 10.000 - 200.000 bbls.

The oil is brought from the reservoir through one or more risers from the wellhead on the sea bed up to the platform. Gas and water is separated from the oil. The gas can be treated in several ways. It can be flared, re-injected into the well or used in the operations of the processing plant. The water is re-injected into the reservoir or released into the ocean after satisfactory cleaning. Injecting sea water into the well may be relevant.

The Sevan Hummingbird left Yantai Raffles Shipyard,China on March 8, 2007. The platform was placed onboard a dry tow vessel and has entered the port of Rotterdam today. She is currently berthed at Keppel Verolme Shipyard, where the installation of the process plant will take place.

AL SHEGAYA

The Al Shegaya is an Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC) built in 1998 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea. The vessel is 335 meters long, 58 meters wide and has a maximum draught of almost 23 meters. With a deadweight of 310,000 tons, the Al Shegaya is one of the largest crude carriers currently sailing. The ship is owned by the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company which is also the owner of the Al Shegaya's sister vessels: Al Tahreer, Al Awdah, Kazimah, Al Salhia, Al Samidoon, Al Funtas and Al Shuhada.

The Al Shegaya will arrive in Rotterdam this evening from Sidi Kerir Terminal (Egypt) for discharging at the MOT terminal.

KAZIMAH III

The Kazimah III (IMO: 9329693, Port of Registry: Safat, Kuwait) is a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with its length of 333 metres, width of 60 metres, draught of 22 metres and a deadweight tonnage of 317,000. She is the first tanker of this type within the fleet renewal program of its owner Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. At present, KOTC operates about 25 vessels of which 8 VLCC's. The Kazimah III was built in 2006 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea.

Since the Suez Canal can currently only accommodate ships with draughts of up to 17.5 metres, the Kazimah III has to discharge some oil at the Ain Sukhna terminal on the Gulf of Suez. From there oil is transported by pipeline to Sidi Kerir Terminal on the Mediterranean, where the vessel loads it again for further transport. The Egyptian government plans to widen and deepen the Suez Canal, so that by 2010 it can accommodate VLCCs and ULCCs. In 2001, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) launched a 5-year program to reduce tanker transit times (from 14 hours to 11 hours) through the Canal. The SCA also is moving ahead with a project to widen and deepened the Canal to allow for transit of larger ships than the 200,000-dead-weight-ton maximum now.

The Kazimah III is scheduled to enter the Port of Rotterdam later this afternoon for discharging at the MOT Terminal.

ESTELLE MAERSK

The Estelle Maersk (IMO: 9321495, Port of Registry: Hellerup, Denmark) is, together with its sisters 'Emma Maersk' and 'Eleonora Maersk', the largest containership ever with a total teu capacity 11,000 teu (of which 1,000 forty foot reefer containers) according to the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group. Rumours are that a total capacity of 13,500 teu is also possible. This capacity is possible by stacking the containers in 22 rows wide. The vessel is 397 meters long, 56 meters wide, has a depth of 30 meters and a deadweigth of 156,907 tons. Amazingly, all this size and capacity requires a crew of only 13. The specially designed Wärtsilä diesel engine delivers 80,000 kW. A waste heat recovery system is installed to optimise the use of the energy produced, so that the engine can deliver up to 90,000 kW. The vessels in this series will also establish new standards for safety and environmental responsibility. Environmentally-safe silicone paint, for example, is used on the hull, below the water line, reducing water resistance, and thereby fuel consumption, by 1,200 tons per year. The ship was built by Odense Steel Shipyard Ltd in 2006.

The Estelle Maersk has arrived today at the APM terminal, Rotterdam from Bremerhaven. The vessel will then set sail for Algeciras and the Far East on the APM AE1 line. She will return within about 5 weeks to Rotterdam.

SC BALTIC

The SC Baltic (IMO: 7393793, Port of Registry: Nørresundby, Denmark) is an in 1975 built pallet handling vessel with an overall length of 95 metres, a width of 15 metres and a maximum draught of 5.7 metres. The vessel can handle pallets using the two starboard sidedoors together with the four pallet elevators and six on board forklifts. She has a total bale capacity of 6.544 m3.

The SC Baltic is expected to arrive this morning at the Wilhelminahaven, Schiedam.

GEORG MAERSK

The Georg Maersk (IMO: 9320257, Port of Registry: Hellerup, Denmark) is a 367 meters long, 43 meters wide container vessel, capable of transporting up to 10,000 teu. The Georg Maersk was delivered in April 2006 by Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark and was the last in a serie of six post-panamax container ships. Her sisters are: Gudrun Maersk, Gerd Maersk, Grete Maersk, Gunvor Maersk and Gjertrud Maersk. Until August 2006 these vessels were the largest container vessels sailing in dimensions. From August 2006 Maersk has delivered the Emma Maersk, Estelle Maersk and Eleonora Maersk, which have taken over the leadership.

The Georg Maersk is currently sailing on the AE1 (Far East to Europe) loop and has entered the port of Rotterdam this morning. The next destination of the vessel will be Bremerhaven, Germany. She will return to Rotterdam within 10 days.

SAIPEM 3000

The Saipem 3000 (IMO: 8309165, Port of Registry: Nassau, Bahamas) is a self-propelled heavy-lift vessel of 162 metres long, 38 metres wide with a crane capable of lifting up to 2,400 tons. This crane has been dismantled from the heavy lift vessel "Pearl Marine". The Saipem 3000 was built as the "Maxita" in 1984 and was transformed in 2003 into its current form. The vessel can accomodate up to 195 persons, has a gymnasium, recreation room and lounge and a helideck for a standard Sikorsky- 61N - Super Puma. She is propelled by 2 4,500 kW LIPS FS 3500 671 MNR thrusters.

The Saipem 3000 is expected to arrive this evening at the Wilhelminahaven, Schiedam.