Page 17: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2002)

RoRo Focus acGregor has worked time- lessly with International regula- tors to ensure that RoRo and

RoPax ships maintain stability despite the potential ingress of cargo handling efficiency.

Operators can take advantage of con- tinual equipment and system refine- ments. with relatively small investments often proving highly cost effective.

Upgrading hydraulic or electric systems, for example, is a common option as original equipment ages and compo- nents needing replacement become more difficult to source. These can be replaced by contemporary equivalents or by more modern alternatives.

A typical upgrading is the replacement of a manually-operated system by an electro-hydraulic PLC-controlled sys- tem, which, via push-button operation, controls the sequences and leaves the

PLC to check the signal when the oper- ation is completed.

A new development proving attractive for RoRo ship newbuildings as well as retrofit projects is MacGREGOR's

COREX panel for creating fixed and hoistable car decks/ramps. The stainless steel sandwich construction yields a sig- nificantly reduced profile (approximate- ly one-third the depth) and about half the weight of an equivalent convention- al steel panel.

The resulting lower lightship weight, reduced molded depth and increased stability can be exploited to maximize the operational flexibility of a RoRo ship and extend payload configurations.

Improved profitability and a higher sec- ond-hand value are thus promoted.

Weight reduction was a prime factor in

Sams0 Linien's decision to retrofit light- weight COREX panel-based hoistable car decks to its small vehicle/passenger ferry Sam-Sine. A larger free height above and below the hoistable car deck was also sought. Replacing the existing hoistable deck with a 98 x 13 ft. (30 x 2.4m) COREX version secured a weight reduction of 10 tons and extra free height on the main vehicle deck. The

Danish owner can also anticipate lower maintenance costs from the stainless steel construction.

Ships with conventional car decks and a trailer deck free height suitable for accompanied trailer traffic can be con- verted to take unaccompanied trailers or to accommodate higher trailers by installing COREX decks. The standard- ization and modularity of a car deck built from COREX panels foster short lead times for conversion projects, says

MacGREGOR, and the container- friendly decks and associated compo- nents can be shipped pre-assembled or for final assembly close to the customer.

Hyundai Heavy Industries ordered

COREX panels for the hoistable car decks and ramps of two Seapacer-class

RoPax ferries booked by the Swedish owner Stena RoRo. COREX panels were selected for the car decks because of their impact on lowering weight and their significantly reduced thickness compared with conventional car decks.

The latter characteristic enabled the designer to meet the owner's strict spec- ifications for maximum free height on the cargo deck without compromising the stability of the ship.

Circle 65 on Reader Service Card www.maritimereporterinfo.com largest train ferry, for the Baltic, and series for domestic and foreign shipowners.

In the Ro-Pax sector too, IZAR has delivered specialist tonnage, such as paper cassette carriers, and long-range vessels designed to operate on the most demanding routes.

And can't forget the successful fast-ferries, both monohull and catamarans, now operating whith great success.

And, most importantly, we are ready to meet any demand.

Let IZAR help build your utopia.

P° de la Castellans, 55 • 28046 MADRID, Spain • Tel. +34 91 335 84 00 • Fax +34 91 441 50 90 • www.izar.es

Circle 274 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com

May, 2002 17