A profile of the new hybrid reefer ship, Carmel Ecofresh and her sister, being built in Portugal by Estaleiros

Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) for operation by Agrexco, of Israel.

First Agrexco hybrid reefer ship nearing completion at ENVC

PPROACHING completion at the Portuguese builder Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) is a highly interesting hybrid reefer ship, Carmel Ecofresh. This flexible vessel is for the transport of fresh goods - or cars as an alternative - in a large

TECHNICAL PARTICULARS CARMEL ECOFRESH Length, oa...................................185.85m Length, bp.................................. 174.53m Breadth, moulded.........................25.14m Depth, moulded to main deck.......................... 16.40m to upper deck........................ 19.55m Width of double skin side.......................................... 2.28m bottom...................................... 1.50m Draught scantling...................................9.50m design...................................... 8.50m Gross.......................................... 17,929gt Displacement..................... 23,752tonnes Lightweight............................ 8700tonnes Deadweight, design.................15,052dwt Refrigerated cargo capacity.....465,000ft3 or 13,168m3 (4221 pallets) Bunkers heavy oil................................ 1560m3 diesel oil.................................. 137m3 Water ballast................................ 6033m3 Heel control equipment........ air-activated tanks Main engine................Sulzer 7RT-flex60C Output................ 16,520kW at 114rev/min Service speed......................... 21.00knots Containers Lengths........................ 20ft; 40ft; 45ft Heights...............................8.5ft; 9.6ft Total TEU capacity.................896TEU (20ft,40ft,45ft) On deck.............. approx 630TEU In holds............... approx 244TEU Reefer plugs.................................100 (+160 option) Tiers On deck..................................... 4 in holds...................................... 5 Classification..................................... ABS

refrigerated cargo hold amidships and containers fore and aft in conventional holds. The versatile design, understood to have been carried out by the German consultant Schiffko working to a concept originally developed by International Maritime Advisers, of Copenhagen, was discussed in detail in The Naval Architect November 2001, page 6, and November 2002, page 33. Two 15,000dwt vessels have been ordered for the German company Horizont Schiffahrtsgesellshaft, to be operated by Agrexco, of Israel, and the first is expected to be delivered in September this year. A combination of cargo-carrying possibilities of this ship make it a very significant delivery, not to mention the fact that her seven-cylinder Sulzer propulsion engine gives freedom in operation and timing of exhaust valve actuation and fuel injection, being one of the first of the new RT-flex models without a camshaft. This 185.85m reefer, classed by ABS and whose hull form was tested at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin, has a length bp of 174.53m, a breadth of 25.14m, a depth of 16.40m, and a

Cross-section through the refrigerated cargo compartments.

design draught of 8.50m. She can reach speeds of 21knots at 90% MCR and 20% sea margin. Carmel Ecofresh contains approximately 465,000ft3 (13,168m3) of reefer cargo space in 16 compartments under the superstructure (unusually positioned slightly forward of amidships), while 638TEU containers can be carried on deck using lashing bridges, and 244TEU in the five cellular holds (three forward and two aft). This is an rare design concept, with a double skin for water ballast tanks surrounding the container holds, and in way of the reefer hold, where the side spaces accommodate the cargo cooling ducts. Pallet elevators and a shell door for side loading are fitted at the starboard side of the refrigerated space. The cargo reefer system is designed for working in conditions varying from seawater temperatures between 0C and 32C, ambient temperatures of -20C to +35C and a ambient air relative humidity of 70%. Hold temperatures can be maintained between -30C and +13C. The refrigerating unit consists of an indirect cooling system, primary refrigerant of R407C, and secondary refrigerant (brine) of CaCl2. Electrical power for the refrigerating system and ship's services is provided by four alternators - 2 x 1210kVA and 2 x 1820kVA, driven by Caterpillar MaK 6M20 and 9M20 engines respectively The ship's main Sulzer engine, supplied by Wrtsil, is a 7RT-flex60C model, which has an output of 16,520kW at 114rev/min. Steady running of this engine can be achieved at exceptionally low engine speeds - 10%-12% of nominal rotational speed is possible through the use of electronic controls. Another important feature of this unit is smoke-free operation throughout the load range, as discussed in our special article on the engines for the ships in November 2002. Carmel Ecofresh is fitted with a FP nickelaluminium-bronze propeller, with a diameter of 6300mm; behind this is a Becker flapped rudder. Carmel Ecofresh has a double shell in the container cargo areas. She also has accommodation for a crew of 30 in 25 cabins.
THE NAVAL ARCHITECT MAY 2003

48

General arrangement plans of the interesting and flexible 15,000dwt Carmel Ecofresh, designed for the transport of fresh produce - or cars as a backhaul cargo - in a large refrigerated cargo space, with containers in fore-and-aft conventional cellular holds.

THE NAVAL ARCHITECT MAY 2003

49