Diamond concept brought to the Handysize
market
Carditt-based Graig Group has given
‘added dimension to its business offering
by unveiling a 34,000dwt bulk carrier
design developed jointly with Danish
technical consultancy Carl Bro Marine,
reports DavidTinsley.
“Tis anticipated that the extension of Graig'Carl
Bro's innovative Diamond double-hull bulker
‘concept to the Handysize sector ofthe market will
soon be vindicated by a contract fora series of the
new sype from interationally-emergent Vietnam
Shipbuilding Industry Corp (Vinashin). ‘The
cared, wide-hatched, sallow-deaught Diamond
534 perpetuates the key features and perceived
long-term operational and structural benefits that
have generated around 30 firm sales to date forthe
first member of the family, the Diamond 53
Handymax (Spar: Lara, pesented in Significant
Ships of 2008
‘The versatile new 34,000dwt type offers
45,500m' of cargo capacity in five hos, bounded
bby a double side shell and double bottom,
alfordng increased safety and allowing structural
arrangements which make for smooth,
jobsiruction-fee, and squared-off hold spaces.
Although there is no mandatory requirement for
new bulk eariers to incorporate double hulls, 2s
had seemed likely when the original Diamond 53
design project had been implemented, the
Graig'Cart Bro solution bas proven to have wide
appeal because of its perceived, long-run
operational as well as safety meri
Graiy’s success in demonstrating that a fall
double-hull class ean be obtained at no cost
penalty overa standard single side-skin design of|
‘comparable capacity ha had a signal bearing on
‘market intrest and sales to date, The company’s
choice of Asian yards, and the nature of the
agreements and projeet management, has been
pivotal to the whole concept
‘The Diamond double-hull configuration
presents a second barrier to accidental water
ingress, and permits the bulkhead framing and
‘TECHNICAL PARTICULARS
DIAMOND 34 BULKER
Length, oa. 420,00
Length, Bp... 172.00
Breadth, moulded. .......-8000M
Draught, scanting, 8.75m
Deadweight 34,0000
Cargo hold capacity 145,500"
Deck cranes. 4 x30tonnes.
‘Main engine power. 7800kW
Service speed, at 9 ight, 80%
MOR, 15% sea margin... 14.00knots
Enduranc --approx 18,0000m
Classification Det Norske Veritas
++1A1 Bulk Carrier ES(D), Nauticus
(New Building), BC-A
(Holds No 2 and 4 may be empty),
ESP EO, GRAIN-U, IB(+),
D&(+), HAH), TMON, BIS, FUEL
‘he Nast Anctecr Serine 20
AHA Ht tg
Ps
‘Steel structural details proposed forthe hold midship section ofthe Diamond 24 bulk carer.
se fames tobe arranged outside the holds, and
within the inter-shell spaces. This makes for lush
surfaces in the cargo spaces, facilitating and
speeding discharge and cleaning, and potentially
also. providing maintenance benefits. Ina
‘conventional, single sde-skin bulke, the strength
members are exposed within the holds, which
fend to call for more exacting unloading
‘operations with certain types of cargo, and an
increased cleaning task. The water ballast ankage
0 formed by the intorshell spaces in the new
Diamond 34 is protected by an epoxy paint
formulation,
‘The double side-skin ensures safe access for
close-up survey of the complete hull structure,
‘even when the vessel is loaded. Furthermore,
‘green water protection afforded by the raised
forecastle and the fore-and-aft underdeck
passageway contributes to the sae operation of|
the ship. In addition, all piping and servic lines
have been placed in the underdeck tunnel, making
{or an unobstructed main deck, reduced exposure
of ittngs to the elements, and potentially reduced
‘maintenance,
‘The robust Diamond 34 is suited very broad
‘ange of bulk commodities including col, grain,
fore, cement, alumina, bauxite, mineral sand,
Feriser sto products, serap iron, logs, packaged
timber and certain dangerous "cargoes.
Undertining the trading seope of the new class,
'ypical loading eondltions could include a heavy
‘grain or heavy ore cargo deadweight of
32.200tonnes, with a 1800tonne departure
‘deadweight, a the 9.75m scantlng draught, and
with holds 2 and 4 empty inthe case of ore.
Strengthened for steel coils
An added merit of the design, and reflecting its
Increased tanktop strength, isthe sultability for up
to two tiers of 20tannes steel coils of 1.5m length
tw be stowed on timber dunnage across all olds,
providing a fll coil eargo carying capability. The
heavy tanktop structure also imbues long-term
protection against the rigours of grab discharge.
‘The holds have been specified with two levels of
lashing. points, while the upper deck will
incorporate timber sockets and lashing eyes so as
to secure deck stows of logs and packaged timber.
Solf-sustaining qualities in cargo working are
conferred by a outfit of four high-stooled, level
Iuffing deck cranes of 30tonne capacity, plumbing
all five holds. A suite of end-folding,
hydraulically-actuated, double-skin hatch covers
with double cros-jint sealing has been specie,
incorporating grainicement fecder openings. The
hatchoays serving Nos holds inthe 30m-wide
vessel are of generous proportions, measu
19.20m length by 20.80m breadth, while a
somewhat smaller opening has been provided 0
No I hold
“The design allords flexibility as to the choice of
‘wo-stroke main engine, with both Sulzer and
MAN B&W marques. The draft specification
foresees a de-rated installation producing a
‘maximum continuous output of 7600KW, with an
attendant heavy fuel oil consumption of
1Tog/kWh. Extrapolation to the 6100KW
continuous service rating fora vessel speed of
‘knots atthe seanding draught evidently results
ina main engine consumption of 2640tonnes/da
‘coming down to 24,90tonnesday when operating
at the desig draught. To minimise the risk of oil
spillage in the event ofan accident, all heavy fuel
oil and diesel oil wll be sored in coffer tanks in
the engineroom,
i envisaged tat the frst ofthe Diamond 345,
will make her seagoing debut in mid 2007,
underscoring the early delivery positions
‘obiainable in Vietnam Inthe meantime, a further
tranche of Diamond 53 contracts isin the offing,
realisation of which would take the worldwide
tally of orders for the Handymax design beyond
30,
Feedback from the five Diamond $3 ships
delivered to date by Chengxi Shipyard and New
‘Century Shipbuilding. in China, and in service
with Norway's Spar Shipping and the Turkish
‘operator Densan Shipping, has indicated that
power requirements for the requisite service
speeds are lower than expected. Masters have
‘also commended the class for its
manoeuvrability, reducing the need for tug
assistance in harbour, and for the benefits in
Toading, discharge and cleaning times conferred
by the nature and configuration of the cargo
section 2
nint Wat
i
ahs
iit
“The proposed general arrangement pian for the
Diamond 34 bulker,
rece Serine 2005