AL BALI STAR

The Al Bali Star (IMO: 9030967, Port of Registry: Monrovia, Liberia) is a single-hulled Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with segregated ballast tanks owned and operated by Vela International Marine Ltd., Dubai (UAE). The vessel was built in 1994 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan. She is 332.5 metres long, 58 metres wide, has a deadweight tonnage of about 291,000, a maximum draught of 21.5 metres, a maximum cargo capacity 328,050 m3 and is equipped with three cargo pumps with a capacity of 5000 m3/hr.

The Al Bali Star arrived this morning at the TEAM Terminal, Rotterdam.

SEVEN SEAS

Today we have the pipelay and construction vessel Seven Seas (IMO: 9384760, Port of Registry: Douglas, Isle of Man) featuring as the SotD. The Seven Seas was constructed over the last two years at Merwede Shipyard, Hardinxveld-Giessendam and was recently outfitted at Huisman-Itrec, Schiedam. The vessel is 153 metres long, 28 metres wide and has a gross tonnage of 18,250. She is equipped with an active heave compensated 400/350 t offshore crane, three auxiliary cranes, two workclass ROVs rated to 3000 metres and is fitted with a pipelay tower designed for flexlay, J-Lay and moonpool deployment operations. The vessel provides accomodation to a maximum of 120 persons and is fitted with an approved and certified
helideck suitable for Sikorsky S92 and Super Puma operations.

The Seven Seas is currently busy with sea trials. She is scheduled to enter and leave the port of Rotterdam several times in the following days.

CMA CGM NABUCCO

Today's SotD is the CMA CGM Nabucco (Port of Registry: Marseille, France, IMO: 9299630). The ship is capable of transporting about 8,488 teu and has a capacity for 700 reefers. She is 334 meters long, 43 meters wide and has a deadweight tonnage of 101,800. The vessel was built in 2006 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea and is managed and operated by CMA CGM, France. She is propelled by a 68,640 kW 12 cylinder MAN-B&W engine which gives the vessel a maximum speed of 23 knots. The Nabucco's sisters are, amongst others, CMA CGM Parsifal, CMA CGM Don Carlos and CMA CGM La Traviata, all named after famous opera's.

The CMA CGM Nabucco is scheduled to enter the port of Rotterdam later this evening with destination ECT Delta terminal. The ship is sailing on the French Asia Line (FAL) between the Far East and North-Western Europe.

ELEONORA MAERSK

The Eleonora Maersk (IMO: 9321500, Port of Registry: Svendborg, Denmark) is, together with her sisters (amongst others) 'Emma Maersk', 'Estelle Maersk', 'Evelyn Maersk' and 'Ebba 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. A total capacity of 13,500 teu is also possible when containers are not fully loaded. This capacity is possible by stacking the containers in 22 rows wide. Maersk calculates the teu capacity with loaded containers. 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 optimize 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 Eleonora Maersk is scheduled to arrive this afternoon at the APM terminal, Rotterdam from Algeciras. Tomorrow, the vessel will set sail for Bremerhaven. She will return within two months to Rotterdam.

The Eleonora Maersk seen arriving at Rotterdam at January 24, 2007. Many thanks to Rene Nicolaes of Sea-Ships.com for the photo!

BERGE NORD

Today's SotD is the Berge Nord (IMO: 9127150, Port of Registry: Stavanger, Norway) 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.

The Berge Nord will arrive later this afternoon 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.

PACIFIC REEFER

The Pacific Reefer (IMO: 9179268, Port of Registry: Panama) is a refrigerated cargo vessel of 145 metres long, 22.6 metres wide, a depth of 13.3 metres and a gross tonnage of 10,991. The Pacific Reefer has a refrigerated cargo capacity of 16,996 m3 and is equipped with two cranes with a SWL of 36 tons each and two cranes with a SWL of 8 tons each. She is propelled by a 11,000 kW Kobe Diesel engine which gives the vessel an operating speed of 18.3 knots. The vessel is operated by Fukujin Kisen Co., Japan and was built in 1999 by Shin Kochijyuko Heavy Industries, Japan.

The Pacific Reefer arrived this morning at the Fruit Terminal Rotterdam with the last port at Sheerness, UK, transporting a load of refrigerated goods (most possibly grapes) from Chile.

ACERGY FALCON

The Acergy Falcon (IMO: 7409401, Port of Registry: Ramsey, Isle of Man) is a pipe-laying vessel owned by Acergy Shipping, Isle of Man. Flexible flowlines can be stored below decks in a 1600 ton capacity powered carousel or on reels on deck. She is equipped with two work class ROVs which can undertake pipeline tie-in work thereby giving her a world wide operating capability. The vessel is 153 meters long (162 including ramp), 21 meters wide and is equipped with a helideck suitable for Sikorsky S61 and a GPS dynamic positioning system. She can accomodate 141 persons and was built in 1976 by IHC Gusto, Holland as the "Petrel".

The Acergy Falcon is entered the port Rotterdam this morning. She is currently berthed at Damen Shipyards, Schiedam.

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. A total capacity of 13,500 teu is also possible when containers are not fully loaded. This capacity is possible by stacking the containers in 22 rows wide. Maersk calculates the teu capacity with loaded containers. 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.

NYK VESTA

Today we have the NYK Vesta (IMO: 9312808, Port of Registry: Panama) featuring as the Ship of the Day. The NYK Vesta is 338 meters long, almost 46 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 97,825 tons and a TEU capacity of 8,600. She is propelled by a B&W 12K98ME engine which delivers approximately 87,000 horsepower. The vessel was built in 2007 by Hyundai Heavy industries and is equipped with the most advanced environmental safety measures, including an electronically controlled engine and a specialized hull structure to prevent fuel-oil leakage. The NYK Vesta was the third ship of four identical NYK vessels which have been built between October 2006 and April 2007. Her sister vessels are: NYK Vega, NYK Venus and NYK Virgo

The NYK Vesta arrived last night at the ECT Delta Terminal coming from Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia on the Grand Alliance EU-4 loop. She will depart within 48 hours with destination Hamburg.

COSCO NAPOLI

The Cosco Napoli (IMO: 9305489, Port of Registry: Monrovia, Liberia) is an in 2006 built container ship with a length of 335 metres, a width of almost 43 metres and a maximum teu capacity of 8,200. She has a deadweight tonnage of 101,500 and a maximum draught of 14.5 metres. The vessel was built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and is currently operated by E.R. Schiffahrt, Hamburg, Germany. The Cosco Napoli's sisters are: Cosco China and Cosco Germany.

The Cosco Napoli is currently deployed on Cosco's AE-1 loop between South-Eastern Asia and Europe. She is scheduled to arrive this evening at the ECT Delta terminal, Rotterdam from Hamburg and will depart tomorrow or the day after with destination Felixstowe.

GPS ATLAS

The GPS Atlas (IMO: 6725212, Port of Registry: London) is a self propelled sheerlegs pontoon with a maximum lift capacity of 400 tons. She has a maximum lift height on the main tackles of 30 metres. The vessel is owned by Niarcos Shipping, Gibraltar and operated by GPS Marine Contractors. She was built in 1967 by Kieler Howaldtswerke, Kiel, Germany as the "Magnus V". From 1982 to 2005 she was known as the "Taklift 3". The sheerlegs is 47 metres long, 20 metres wide and has a gross tonnage of 904. She is propelled by a fixed pitch Schottel propeller.

The GPS Atlas will arrive this afternoon at Krimpen a/d IJssel, in towage of the tug Red Dolphin.

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.

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 is scheduled to arrive this evening 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.

FAITH N

The Faith N (Port of registry: Panama, IMO: 8618425), is one of the larger bulk carriers currently sailing. She is owned by the General Ore Carrier Corporation and operated by Neu Seeschiffahrt, Hamburg. The vessel was built in 1990 by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, has a deadweight tonnage of about 261.000, is 325 meters long, 54 meters wide and has a draught of 20.5 meters. The ship has 9 transitional bulkheads and 2 longitudional bulkheads. Her sister vessels are the Alfred N and Arthur N.

The Faith N arrived this morning at the EMO terminal, Rotterdam from Ponta da Madeira, Brasil.

COASTAL INSPIRATION

Today's SotD is the Coastal Inspiration (IMO: 9332767, Port of Registry: Kingstown, St. Vincent & The Grenadines). The Coastal Inspiration is the second of three Coastal Class ships to be delivered to her owner BC Ferries, Canada. She was delivered this year from Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany. The first delivery was the Coastal Renaissance, which departed for British Columbia on October 27, 2007, and arrived in British Columbia on December 13, 2007. She will be followed by the Coastal Celebration in June 2008.

The Coastal Inspiration is 160 metres long, 28.2 metres wide, has a maximum speed of 21 knots, a gross tonnage of 21,980 and a capacity of 1,650 passengers and 370 vehicles. She is propelled by four 4,000 kW medium speed MaK diesel engines. The ship’s gigantic promotional images feature women’s snowboarding and men’s curling from the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, as well as tourism photos of Brooks Peninsula
Provincial Park on Vancouver Island and Kootenay National Park in south-western British Columbia.

The Coastal Inspiration arrived this morning at the EBS Terminal, Europoort for bunkering. When finished she will depart for Victoria, Canada where she will arrive in about 5 weeks. She will stop for refuelling and supplies in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) Cristobal (Panama) and either Ensenada (Mexico) or Los Angeles (California), before sailing up the west coast of North America to B.C.

CONSTANCE N

The Constance N (IMO: 8210211, Port of Registry: Monrovia, Liberia, ex. name: Gargantua) is a 315 metres long, 50 metres wide bulk carrier. She has a maximum draught of 19.7 metres and has a deadweight of 224,666 tons. She was built in 1983 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan, is currently owned by General Ore Carrier Corporation VII and managed by Neu Seeschiffahrt, Germany.

The Constance N arrived this morning at the EMO terminal, Rotterdam carrying iron ore from Tubarao, Brasil.

ITAL CONTESSA

The Ital Contessa (IMO: 9293806, Port of Registry: Majuro, Marshall Islands) was built in 2006 at Samsung Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries. The containership has a teu capacity of 8,000, is 334 meters long, almost 43 meters wide, has a draught of 14.5 meters and a deadweight tonnage of 101,000.
She is currently owned by Conti Reederei, Germany, managed by NSB Niederelbe, Germany and is sailing for the Italian based Italia Marittima (previously: Lloyd Triestino) on their China-Europe-Mediterranean Service.

The Ital Contessa entered the port of Rotterdam this morning and is currently (dis)charging at the ECT Delta Terminal. The vessel's next destination is Taranto (Italy). From there the vessel will sail towards the Far East. She will return in Rotterdam within two months.

ALBERT MAERSK

The Albert Maersk (IMO:9260469, Port of Registry: Copenhagen) is a Post-Panamax, Series S, container vessel owned by A.P. Møller-Maersk. The vessel was built in 2004 by Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark as the 25th in line of 29 almost identical ships. She is 352 metres long, 43 metres wide, has a maximum draught of 15 metres and a maximum official teu capacity of 6,600 but believed to carry a maximum of up to 10,000 teu. For whatever reason, Maersk is always vague about their teu capacities.

The Albert Maersk is scheduled to arrive this evening at the APM terminal, Rotterdam from Bremerhaven. Her next port of call will be Algeciras. The Albert Maersk is scheduled to return to Rotterdam in two months.

ZHEN HUA 10 (STRANDED NEAR ROTTERDAM)

Today we have a very special report at Ship of the Day. In the night between friday and saturday, the heavy load carrier Zhen Hua 10 (IMO: 7917410, Port of Registry: Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines), which was anchored near Rotterdam, ran adrift in storm conditions and floated towards the Dutch coast, where she finally ran aground at the 'Slufter'-beach at the Maasvlakte. For a while it appeared that the vessel was in danger of capsizing, but she was soon stable being stuck in the sand. The Zhen Hua 10 is loaded with 5 containercranes (of which one is destined for the new Euromax-terminal at Rotterdam) from Shanghai and has a crew of 33, which are still on board and not injured.

The Zhen Hua 10 is 244 metres long, 40 metres wide, has a maximum draught of 8.5 metres and a deadweight of 45323 tonnes. She was built in 1981 by Astilleros y Talleres del Noroeste S.A., Spain as an oil tanker and was converted to a heavy load carrier in 2005. The vessel is operated by Shanghai Zhenhua Shipping Co. Ltd, China.

On Sunday (February 3.), an attempt to refloat the vessel was made using several tugs, but since the vessel's propeller was stuck in the mud, the attempt failed. One of the tugcables broke and the attempt was aborted. Last night anouther attempt was made, but this also failed.

Yesterday (February 4.) the tug "Janus" (IMO: 9367504) arrived at the Zhen Hua 10 to assist in the attempts, however a mooring rope got caught in the vessel's propeller so the Janus could not participate in the third attempt. Unfortunately the third attempt also failed. However, they did succeed in turning the ship, with her bow facing west, towards open sea.

Last night, a fourth attempt was made using the tugs "Smit Humber", "RT Magic", "Fairplay 21" and the "Janus". This attempt was successful and the ship was refloated. After a short period of new anchorage, due to heavy winds, the vessel entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning and is currently moored at the Yangtzehaven where she will be surveyed for any damage. When she appears to be in order, she will continue her voyage, after unloading the crane at the Euromax-terminal, Rotterdam, to Hamburg. However it is most likely that the vessel suffered to much damaged on her propeller and rudder to continue her voyage.

WORLD LION

Crude oil tanker World Lion (IMO: 9258519, Port of Registry: Hong Kong) is 332 metres long, 58 metres wide vessel capable of transporting 345,200 tonnes of crude oil. The vessel has a deadweight tonnage of almost 300,000 and a maximum draught of 22 metres. She was built in 2003 by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Korea and is operated by BW Shipping managers, Singapore. She is propelled by a 25,485 KW HSD-MAN B&W 7S80MC(MK6) engine.

The World Lion arrived this morning at the Calandkanaal, Rotterdam in empty state.