Page 14: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2001)

Vessel of the Month WKS3M sharpen its competitiveness in the mar- ket for medium-sized vessels. Moreover, a plan for the construction of a new lock of 115 ft. (35 m) width figures promi- nently in proposals by the authorities to improve maritime access to the port, along with the deepening of the fairway from 21 to 28 ft. (6.5 to 8.5 m).

While boosting the port's commercial scope, realization of the project would of course significantly increase potential newbuild size from IZAR's Seville facil- ity, and better enable the yard to act on the opportunities it perceives in target markets.

The shipyard plays a vital role in the local economy and gives added industri- al dimension to the Guadalquivir, which

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V

H 1 i lad.- 1 provides Seville with a 98-km conduit to the sea. Murillo is one of the largest vessels that can be delivered from the shipyard, given the present constraints imposed by the width of the lock con- necting the industrial port area with the tideway. Its beam of 80 ft. (24.3 m) at main deck level is the practical maxi- mum for transit through the existing lock.

The design used by IZAR for a series of RoPax ferries built for the U.K. owner Cenargo International, manifest- ed in the 22,152-gt Dawn Merchant and

Brave Merchant of 1998-99, and in the

Northern Merchant and Midnight Mer- chant of 2000, has provided the basis for the Trasmed ferry Murillo. The latter employs the same hull form and main dimensions, although the hull envelope has been optimized in the Spanish ship with increased RoRo capacity, sur- mounted by more passenger accommo- dation. There are also differences in the equipment specification.

Having an existing template, though, has undoubtedly contributed to the yard's efficient production of the latest vessel. At the time of MR/EN's visit,

IZAR yard management expected to be ready to deliver Murillo ahead of the contractual delivery date. Trasmed had initially looked to phase the vessel into service in May 2002.

Two large, tilting ramps are located on either side of the garage section to pro- vide conduits for freight transfer between the main and upper deck levels.

As key elements of the cargo access equipment outfit designed and supplied by MacGregor to ensure the expeditious working of the ship in port, the ramps and integral end-flaps measure 180 ft. (54.9 m) overall, and offer a driveway breadth of 10 ft. (3.2 m). Each ramp can be lowered at either end by means of disconnecting hinges, and stows flush 14 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News