Aframax Tanker Designed for Arctic Shipping

A modern Aframax-sized tanker concept designed for transporting crude oil and oil product in the Arctic has been developed via collaboration between Deltamarin Ltd. and Aker Arctic Technology Inc. 

In creating the new tanker concept, Deltamarin said it drew upon its expertise in affordable energy efficient cargo vessels, together with Aker Arctic’s track record in Arctic vessels. Apart from being ice strengthened and equipped with other new features, the 118,000 DWT vessel will provide cost efficient and reliable tanker operations both in open water and in ice, according to Deltamarin.

The Arctic Aframax tanker is strengthened to ice class PC5 level (equals approximately Russian Maritime Register of Shipping category ARC6) and is capable of continuously breaking thicker than one-meter level ice. She can operate on the Northern Sea Route during the extended summer months, and with assistance even longer. During the winter months, the vessel can operate in other sub-Arctic sea areas such as the Baltic Sea or Sakhalin.

“The design integrates optimized ice breaking and open water performance as well as the latest energy efficiency features applied together with the Polar Code requirements. This unique combination results in an affordable building and improved transport economy by cost efficient operation. The design can be fine-tuned according to the customer’s wishes,” according to Deltamarin’s Director of Ship Design Markku Miinala and Aker Arctic’s Project Manager Riku Kiili.

The vessel’s bow and hull shape balance open water performance with icebreaking capabilities, the designers said. The specially designed hull strengthening improves safety in operations in the Arctic waters. The hull is equipped with an Ice Load Monitoring System, which measures ice loads from the hull and provides online support to the officers ensuring safe operations. The system will also help the ship owner in the long term by analyzing the data and creating information for the optimal operations.  The emphasis has also been on winterization for cold climates in all aspects of the concept design. 

The vessel is equipped with two CP-propellers and shaft lines directly coupled with slow speed diesel engines. The vessel can also be fitted to run on LNG with dual fuel engines. Further, there is a possibility for two bow thrusters and shaft PTO/PTI (Power Take Off / Power Take In) systems.  A special focus has been on developing an improved command bridge, where the new Aker Arctic ARC Bridge Concept was used. The visibility from the bridge is excellent in all directions and good ergonomics including access and passages to command posts is created.

 

Technical specifications: Arctic Aframax 118,000 DWT Crude Oil Carrier

Main Dimensions:
Loa 266.0 m
Lbp 258.1 m
Breadth 46.0 m
Depth 22.5 m
Draught, design 14.8 m
Hull and Performance:
Ice class PC5/RMRS Arc6 level
Ice breaking capability 1 meter continuous
Economical open water speed 13.5 knots