Four 12,500 dwt/766 TEU multipurpose/container ships commissioned from Kyokuyo Shipyard in Japan by Switzerland-based Enzian Shipping are scheduled for delivery in 2005. MacGregor was tapped to supply complete hatch cover sets for both weather and tweendecks, deck cranes, and securing systems.
Designed for carrying container and bulk cargoes, the versatile vessels will be equipped with MacGregor liftaway hatch covers on the weather deck, each outfit comprising four panels for No 1 hatch, eight panels for No 2 hatch and two panels for No.3 hatch. The tweendeck cover (No 2 hatch) will consist of eight liftaway panels, some of which can be arranged to create portable bulkheads. The paired panels at both deck levels are designed to accept loading with 20ft or 40ft containers.
Sealing on the periphery and at the joints of the panel-pairs is effected by Cat packing and the weather deck covers benefit from MacGregor Lubripad supports.
As the vessels’ holds will not be fitted with cellguides, MacGregor met OSHA requirements by using terminal pressure stacker lashing equipment. The TPS-1 facilitates the safe handling of containers in accordance with OSHA requirements, which effectively bans stevedores from climbing on top of containers to release securing devices. Moreover, the TPS-1 allows unrestricted independent and flexible loading and discharging of both 20ft and 40ft containers without the need to reduce weight in accordance with GL requirements.
A special feature will be portable stoppers of different heights arranged around the weather deck panels to ease handling of the covers by the ship’s cranes.
Cargo and liftaway cover handling will be executed by MacGregor deck cranes, each shipset comprising two GL8019/4530/4033-3 models. MacGregor will also supply a 17m team beam per vessel capable of a 144-tonne SWL, as well as one 40ft frame spreader with a 36-tonne SWL and a 20ft frame spreader with a 50-tonne SWL. These will be used for loading and discharging containers and handling hatch cover panels.