Spaarneborg Premieres As First Of Stora Enso's New Series

A member of the Wagenborg trio, MV Spaarneborg was constructed at German shipyard Flender Werft as part of a key component within a new transport system developed by forestry product company Stora Enso.

Modeled after a new intermodal project, the vessel, as well as its two sisterships measures 600 x 82 x 49 ft. (183 x 25 x 15 m), with a deadweight of 13,000-dwt. Cruising at speeds of 18 knots, Spaarneborg, as well as its additional fleet members - Schieborg and Slingeborg — will run between the Gothenburg to Zeebrugge route.

Designed to transport 105 specially-sized Stora forest product containers - the technologically-driven SECU (Stora Enso Cargo Unit) container - measures 45 x 12 x 12 ft. (13.8 x 3.6 x. 3.6 m), with an endloading door. The SECUs can hold up to 70 tons of cargo, where they will be stowed on the lower hold, main deck and part of the weather deck via a translifter. Benefiting the most from this revolution are transportational outlets, specifically the coordination between Sweden's rail network, North Sea traffic and Europe's inland waterways.

Dutch shipping company, Wagenborg Scheepvaart, the benefactor of these Netherlands-flagged vessels, is chartering the trio to Belgium-based Cobelfret Ferries N.V. Noteworthy of their single-propeller driven power, the Bureau Veritas classed RoRos are equipped with a low speed crosshead diesel engine (7RTA 52 U) type with an output of 10,920 kW at 135-rpm. The engine plant's foreship location frees up the cargo holds from internals, mainly engine casings, which might block the cargo intake. Holds have been squared off for utmost use of cargo decks. In addition to transporting Storaboxes, the vessels can carry trailers, trucks, containers, private cars and general cargo.

Touted as environmentally-friendly, the low fuel consumption, high cargo capacity vessels' propulsion machinery will burn low-sulphur heavy oil, while their plants will be equipped with exhaust emission treatment ment units. Electrical supply is granted through two auxiliary diesel generators and one shaft generator having a total capacity of 3,360 kW. A special rudder operating 70 degrees to both sides, in addition to two bowthrusters, and one stern thruster, allows Spaarneborg to perform non-tug assisted maneuvers. MacGregor Outfits Advanced KHI-Built RoRo Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) expanded its RoRo tonnage references with the January delivery of the 2,300 lane-meter trailer carrier Celandine to Belgian operator Cobelfret, which was scheduled to be joined by sistership Victorine this past March.

KHI's trailer carrier deliveries feature cargo handling/access outfits from MacGregor/Kayaba, which has long been a constant force within the RoRo equipment sector in Japan. With rolling freight capacity provided on the tanktop, main and upper decks, as well as the van deck and weather deck, stern access to main and upper decks is present via a ramp/door supplied by MacGregor-Kayaba measures 75 ft. (22.9 m) with a 10 ft. (3 m) flap, and has an effective driveway width of 49 ft./58 ft. (15m/20.8 m). In the closed position, the ramp serves as a weathertight door for the starboard side opening into the main deck. First Of RoRo Series Joins Wallenius Fleet MS Tamesis, the first of a new generation of RoRo vessels boasting innovative designs has joined the Wallenius Wilhelmsen fleet.

Joining three sisterships to be delivered throughout the next 10 months, Tamesis was commissioned in 1998 by Wilh. Wilhelmsen of Norway - one of two equal shareholders in Wallenius Wihelmsen.

Delivered on April 13 by Daewoo Okpo Shipyard, the Mark IV RoRo provides 35 percent more covered capacity for specialized RoRo cargo than the previous Mark III design. Suitable for carrying a total capacity of 5,400 cars, the vessel is specifically designed for project and other unique or heavy lift cargo such as power generators, construction and agriculture equipment.

Measuring 787 x 106 ft. (240 x 32.2 m), the vessel, whose name in Latin means River Thames, has a deadweight of 38,300 tons.