ENSCO 100

Today we have the jack-up oil rig Ensco 100 (IMO: 8752661, Port of Registry: Monrovia, Liberia) featuring as the Ship of the Day. The Ensco 100 has a size of about 90 x 90 meters, stands on 3 legs of 150 meters long, has a deck space of 3,800 square meter and provides accomodation to a maximum crew of 107. She can operate at a maximum depth of about 100 meter. She can survive at sea with weather conditions with winds of up to 100 knots. The rig was built in 1987 by UIE, Clydebank, UK and was upgraded in 2000 to its current proportions. She is owned by ENSCO Offshore Internation, Dallas, USA.

The Ensco 100 is scheduled to arrive later this evening at the Maasvlakte Offshore Put, accompanied by the tugs 'De Da' and 'Fairmount Alpine'. She is currently being moved from waters near Nigeria to the North Sea.

STENA ANTARCTICA

The Stena Antarctica (IMO: 9322827, Port of Registry: George Town, Cayman Islands) is quite unique since there are only a few ice class tankers with the dimensions this vessel has. The Stena Antarctica is 250 metres long, almost 44 metres wide and has a draught of almost 15 metres. These dimensions give the Aframax-dimensioned tanker a deadweight tonnage of 115,000. She was built this year by Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea, is currently owned by Moon Shipping Servicos e Navegacao Lda and is on a 10 year long timecharter for Progetra, Russia.

The Stena Antarctica arrived this afternoon at the Shell Europoort Terminal, Rotterdam from Primorsk, Russia.

CMA CGM MEDEA

The CMA CGM Medea (IMO: 9299800, Port of Registry: Marseille) is an in 2006, by Hyundai Heavy Industries built, Post-Panamax container vessel, capable of transporting 9400 teu. She is 349 metres long, almost 43 metres wide, has a maximum draught of about 15 metres and a deadweight tonnage of 107,000. But the CMA CGM Medea is a gentle giant with five passenger cabins. On board, guests can book a single or double room and enjoy the ship’s amenities including a lounge, gymnasium, pool and library along with meals at the captain’s table. Travelers seeking an uncommon cruise adventure between Asia and Europe need look no further. The CMA CGM Medea is the fourth of eight super mega container vessels deployed in the new European (FAL2) service jointly operated by CMA CGM and China Shipping. Her sisters are: CMA CGM Fidelio, Rigoletto and Norma.

The CMA CGM Medea will enter the Port of Rotterdam this afternoon where she will berth at the ECT Terminal. She will depart tomorrow with destination Hamburg.

TAKLIFT 7

The Taklift 7 (IMO: 7829273, Port of Registry: Rotterdam) is a seagoing floating sheerlegs vessel owned by SMIT Heavy Lift Europe. The sheerlegs has a length of 72 metres, is 30 metres wide and has a minimum sailing height of 49 metres. It has a propulsion of 3 x 460 kW and has two bow thrusters of 368 kW each. The longboom can reach a height of 160 metres above deck and has a lifting capacity of 1,200 tons.

The vessel was built in 1976 by HDW Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG, Kiel, Germany as the Hebelift 3. In 1994 the vessel was acquired by Smit and named Taklift 7.

The Taklift 7 will enter the port of Rotterdam this morning from Milford Haven, UK, where she was used for heavy lifting at a construction site for a new LNG terminal. On arrival the Taklift 7 will berth at the Waalhaven, Rotterdam.

VZMORYE

Today's SotD is the tug Vzmorye (IMO: 9380192, Port of Registry: Kaliningrad, Russia) which was built this year at Keppel Singmarine Shipyard, Singapore. The Vzmorye is an offshore support vessel with firefighting capabilities, currently owned by Lukoil-Kaliningradmorneft which is a subsidiary to Lukoil Oil Company, a leading Russian oil company with main activities in oil and gas exploration and production, and production and sale of petroleum products. She is propelled by two 2640 kW MAK engines and equipped with all the latest positioning systems. The vessel has a length of 65 meters, a width of 15 meters and a maximum speed of 13 knots.

The Vzmorye has arrived this morning at the Waalhaven Rotterdam where she will pick up the crane vessel 'Anna 4'.

COSCO HELLAS

The Cosco Hellas(IMO: 9308510, Port of Registry: Piraeus) is one of the largest container vessels nowadays, together with her sisters: Cosco Beijing, Cosco Ningbo, Cosco Yantian and Cosco Guangzhou. Only the in 2006 and 2007 built Maersk PS-class vessels (amongst which are the Emma Maersk, Estelle Maersk and Eleonora Maersk) and three in 2006 for CSCL built containervessels are larger in gross tonnage. The 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 Hellas is currently sailing on the AE1-loop which connects Asia and Europe.

The Cosco Hellas arrived this morning at the ECT Delta 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.

XIN LOS ANGELES

Two years ago the Xin Los Angeles was the largest containervessel around. But since the launching of the Emma Maersk (which also arrives at the port of Rotterdam today), the vessel is 'just' one of the bigger ones. The Xin Los Angeles is 337 metres long, almost 46 metres wide and has a maximum draught of 15 metres. She can carry a maximum of 18 rows of containers by eight tiers on the weather deck and 16 rows by 10 tiers in the holds which gives the vessel a total capacity of 9,600 teu. The ship is propelled by a MAN B&W 12K98MC-C Mk6 engine, with a power of 68,520 kW. During sea trials the ship achieved a ballast service speed of 25.4 knots. The CSCL Pusan and Xin Shanghai are her sistervessels.

The Xin Los Angeles will enter the port of Rotterdam later this evening where she will berth at the ECT terminal.

BW FJORD

The BW Fjord (IMO: 8314471, Port of Registry: Panama) is an ore carrier built in 1987 by Ishikawajima do Brazil Estaleiros, Brasil as the Docefjord. She was renamed in 2000 to Berge Fjord and is named BW Fjord since 2007. The vessel is 332 metres long, 57 metres wide and has a maximum draught of over 23 metres and is currently operated by BW Gas, Norway. These dimensions give the vessel a deadweight tonnage of 310,000.

The BW Fjord arrived this morning at the EMO terminal Rotterdam carrying a load of iron ore from Tubarao, Brasil. She will stay there for about 5 days before leaving again to Tubarao. She will return then within about 6 weeks to Rotterdam.

ORIANA

The Oriana (IMO: 9050137, Port of Registry: Hamilton, Bermuda) is a cruiseship owned by P&O Cruises. The last time the Oriana visited Rotterdam.was september 2006. The cruiseship is 260 meters long, 32 meters wide and has a deadweight tonnage of 69,000. She has a maximum capacity of 1,928 passengers and a crew of 794. There are 10 decks that hold a total of 914 cabins, several bars and lounges, a casino, some shops, a health and beauty spa, four restaurants, a theatre and a cinema an art gallery and lots more. The Oriana entered service in April 1995 as the first cruise liner custom-built for the British cruise market. She is specifically designed and equipped to operate world voyages. And embodies the classic lines, comfort and ambience of traditional ocean liners.

She was the fastest cruise ship built for 25 years, with an operating speed of 24 knots. Her high speed and technically advanced hull enable Oriana to operate the best and most far-reaching itineraries worldwide.

The Oriana is currently sailing on her'Autumn Getaway' cruise, a 3-day cruise on which it visits Southampton, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. After this cruise the Oriana will set sail from Southampton to the western Mediterranean to visit amongst others Barcelona, Cannes, Rome and Tunis.

The most recent webcam picture can be found here:

















Some pictures of the interior:

Suite interior	Standard cabin (without window) interior
Atrium	Art Gallery

HARAD

Today's SotD is the crude oil tanker Harad (IMO: 9220952, port of registry: Nassau, Bahama's) which is 333 metres long, 56 metres wide and has a draught of 22.5 metres. These dimensions give the vessel a deadweight tonnage of 303,000. The vessel is owned by the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia and operated by Mideast Ship Management Limited. She was built in 2001 by Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea and is powered by a 44,640 HP Samsung engine.

The Harad is scheduled to arrive later this evening at the TEAM terminal, Rotterdam Europoort.

EBBA MAERSK

The Ebba Maersk (IMO: 9321524, Port of Registry: Copenhagen, Denmark) is already the fifth in line of Maersk's PS-class. Together with her sisters (amongst which are the 'Emma Maersk' and 'Evelyn Maersk') she is 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 deadweight 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 have also established 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 launched at Odense Steel Shipyard Ltd in May 2007.

The Ebba Maersk arrived this morning at the APM terminal, Rotterdam from Algeciras. Tomorrow, the vessel will set sail for Bremerhaven on the APM AE1 line. She will return within about 7 weeks to Rotterdam.

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. The containership was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea in 2006 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 evening 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.

ZHEN HUA 17

Photo by: D. Hazell

The Zhen Hua 17 (IMO: 8301955, Port of Registry: Kingstown, Saint Vincent and Grenadines) is a bridge crane and heavy equipment carrier operated by Shanghai Zhenhua Shipping Co., China. She was built in 1985 as the North Duchess by A/S Burmeister & Wain Shipyard, Copenhagen. The vessel is 225 metres long, 32 metres wide, has a maximum draught of 8.5 metres and a deadweight tonnage of 30126. The Zhen Hua 17 is one of several Zhen Hua vessels to deliver 76 cranes at the new-built automatic Euromax Terminal at Rotterdam. She has arrived this morning at the Yangtzehaven, Rotterdam.

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.

CALAMITY JANE

The Calamity Jane is a support vessel for Allseas' mechanical subsea pipeline vessel Digging Donald, which is fully remote controlled from the Calamity Jane and has a maximum depth of 350 meters. In addition to trenching, other support services on dynamic positioning can be performed by the Calamity Jane, such as pipeline crossing preparation, mattress installation in deep water, surveys and pigging and testing of pipelines, all diverless.
The vessel is 151 meters long, 20 meters wide and can accomodate 72 persons. She is equipped with one fixed lifting frame for lifting up to a maximum of 200 tons and a general purpose crane for lifting up to 55 tons. The Calamity Jane is owned by the Swiss-based Allseas Group S.A. which is one of the major offshore pipelay and subsea construction companies in the world, operating specialised vessels - which were designed in-house.

The Calamity Jane has entered the Port of Rotterdam this evening and is currently berthed at Mammoet Schiedam.

OOCL ASIA

The OOCL Asia (IMO: 9300790, Port of Registry: Hong Kong) is a SX class container vessel capable of transporting 8063 TEU. The vessel was built in 2006 by Samsung Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Co. Ltd, Korea and is 323 meters long and 43 meters wide. The ship is currently sailing on the OOCL EU-4 route (Asia-Europe-Asia) which will ensure the OOCL Asia to visit Rotterdam every 56 days.

The OOCL Asia will arrive this evening at the ECT Delta terminal in Rotterdam from Jedda, Saudi Arabia. She is scheduled to leave Rotterdam tomorrow heading for Hamburg, Germany.

BERGE STAHL

Source: http://www.beeldbankvenw.nl/, Rijkswaterstaat. The Berge Stahl has been repainted recently. She now has a blue funnel and a white bridge.

Today's SOTD is the Berge Stahl (IMO:8420804, Port of registry: Stavanger, Norway) which is the largest bulk carrier currently sailing with her deadweight of 364,767 tons. The vessel is owned by Bergesen Worldwide Shipping, was built in 1992 by Hyundai Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd. Ulsan, Korea, is 343 meters long, 65 meters wide, has a draught of 23 meters and has 7 holds and hatches. She transports iron ore from the 'Companhia Vale do Rio Doce' mines in the eastern part of the Amazone, Brasil to Rotterdam about 9 or 10 times a year. From Rotterdam the iron ore is transported in barges to the steel mills of ThyssenKrupp and Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann in Germany. The Berge Stahl has arrived this morning at the EECV terminal, Rotterdam from Ponta da Madeira, Brasil. Rotterdam and Ponta da Madeira are the only two ports in the world which are deep enough to receive the vessel.

NORWEGIAN GEM

The Norwegian Gem (IMO: 9355733, Port of Registry: Nassau, Bahama's) is a newly build cruise ship currently sailing on her maiden voyage. The vessel has 11 bars and lounges, 12 restaurants with all sorts of food, a bowling alley, a pool, a spa, a fitness center, casino, etcetera, etcetera... She provides accomodation to 2,400 passengers in a variety of rooms from the simple inside stateroom to the utmost luxurious 4,390 square foot Garden Villa complete with living room, dining room and three separate bedrooms each with king- or queen-size bed, private luxury bath.

The Norwegian Gem has arrived this night at the Holland Amerikakade, Rotterdam. She will depart later this afternoon for a short promotion trip on the Northsea and will return to Rotterdam tomorrow once more. She will then leave for Dover and from there she will set sail for the Mediterranean.

Webcam Norwegian Gem:

BERGE NORD

Today's SotD is the Berge Nord (IMO: 9127150, Port of Registry: Stavanger, Norway) which is currently anchored of Rotterdam and scheduled to arrive later this week at the EECV bulk terminal, Rotterdam (Europoort) from Seven Islands, Canada carrying iron ore. From Rotterdam the iron ore is transported in barges to the steel mills of ThyssenKrupp and Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann in Germany.

The Berge Nord has a deadweight tonnage of 218,000, a draught of almost 19 meters and has seven holds and hatches. The ship was built in 1997 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea and is owned by BW Gas ASA, Norway. This 305 meters long, 53 meters wide bulk carrier is the biggest ship to enter the Arctic sea. Other vessels owned by Bergesen and visiting Rotterdam regularly are: Berge Stahl, Bergeland, Berge Arctic and Berge Pacific.