Most Powerful Heavy Lift Cargo Ship Delivered by Hitachi Zosen

The 13,740-dwt Happy Buccaneer, said to be the most powerful heavy lift cargo carrier in the world, was delivered recently by the Hiroshima yard of Hitachi Zosen Corporation in Japan to Amstel Tanker Management B.V. (Mammoet Transport) of the Netherlands.

The vessel is fitted with two heavy lift mastcranes (HLM), a new development of Blohm + Voss of Hamburg, West Germany. Each crane has a lifting capacity of c50 tons, and operated in tandem they can lift loads of up to 1,100 tons at an outreach of 35 meters (about 115 feet). Unlike conventional cranes, the derrick of the HLM slews around a fixed mast. Because of this design, the mast diameter as well as the diameter of the slewing bearing can be relatively small, thereby reducing deck space required.

The HLMs' design and their arrangement at the starboard side of the ship make it possible to provide a continous and very wide hatch opening for bulky heavy lifts. At sea the derricks will be lasbed in a nearly vertical position, permitting the carriage of bulky deck cargoes.

Open hull construction has been adopted for this ship, and no longitudinal bulkheads are present in tbe cargo hold, thus allowing large-size cargoes of various shapes. The cargo hold is divided into two compartments, upper and lower, by pontoon type hatch covers. The hold is designed so that the vessel can sail while her upper-deck hatch covers are removed. In addition, heavyweight cargoes can be rolled on and off via the ship's stern ramp. As an alternate cargo, the vessel has a carrying capacity of up to 1,058 twenty - foot containers.

Main propulsion is provided by two Hitachi/Sulzer 6ZAL40 diesels, each with maximum continuous rat- ing of 5,220 bhp at 580 rpm. Twin controllable-pitch propellers are driven through reduction gearing; a bow thruster is also installed. Together they provide the ship with efficient propulsion and enhanced maneuverability.

The Happy Buccaneer has an overall length of 439.6 feet, beam of 92.85 feet, depth of 48.56 feet, and full-load draft of 27 feet. She is built to Lloyd's Register of Shipping classification.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 11, Oct 1984

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