Great Ships of 2001 -- Berge Arctic

Berge Arctic is an ore carrier built under NIS flag and delivered in November 2001 to comply with the requirements of Det Norske Veritas and classed +1A1, "Ore Carrier ESP", NAUTICUS (Newbuilding), HC, IB(+), EO, ICE-1C, LCS(SI), TMON. The vessel has a continuous upper deck with forecastle, a raked stem with bulbous bow, a transom stern with open water type stern frame, a semi-balanced rudder and a fixed pitch propeller directly driven by a slow speed diesel.

The vessel is ice strengthened, with the hull structure designed and strengthened to meet "ICE 1C" notation as required by the classification society. The design fatigue of the hull structure is minimum of 25 years based on operation in the North Atlantic between U.K. and Canada.

The cargo area is divided into center cargo holds and wing water ballast tanks by two longitudinal bulkheads. The double bottom structure is arranged throughout center cargo holds, and center cargo holds are divided by corrugated type transverse bulkheads with upper and lower stools. Inner bottom plating in way of ore cargoes is strengthened for empty grab weight of 35 tons.

The hatch covers are electro-hydraulically operated side rolling type consisting of one panel of peak top type to operate satisfactorily in temperature ranging between -30 degrees C to +45 degrees C. The vessel is configured with seven cargo holds, 16 ballast tanks including peak tanks. Total cargo capacity is 101,014 cu. m. and ballast capacity of 102,817 cu. m., including peak tanks.

Two centrifugal ballast pumps of the capacity of 3,000 cu. m./hr. and one of the capacity of 1,500 cu. m./hr. each driven by electric motor, are provided. Electric power generating plant is consist of two diesel generators, one turbo-generator and one emergency generator. One oil fired auxiliary boiler of the capacity of 11,500 kg/hr. is provided to supply the steam for turbo-generator, general service and heating.

The Integrated navigation system (INS) and ECDIS are provided. Fire indication and failure of detector are of analog addressable on the central panel and interfaced with IAS to display mimic diagram. Instruments, alarms and control equipment for safe operation of main engine and auxiliaries are arranged for a part of integrated automation system (IAS).