[ALSTER RAPID] MULTI DECK SMALL RO-RO FOR NORTH SEA RUN

The 2512-dwt Alster Rapid, a new type of vessel recently delivered by the Neuenfelde (Hamburg) yard of J.J. Sietas to Thien & Heyenga, of Hamburg, is now in service with Henry Stahl's Washbay Line, operating between King's Lynn (which has an entrance lock that restricts ship size) and Hamburg. Her main superstructure is forward, and she has five cargo decks; these are the tank top, main deck, two removable cardecks, and the weatherdeck. All the cargo-bearing surfaces, except the tank top and the main threshold deck above the machinery space, are movable. Ramps, and a combination of folding and rolling piggyback hatch covers, supplied by MacGregor-Navire, provide the ship with multipurpose capability. The access ramp, at the stern, can be raised from main-deck level to line up with the cardecks and the weatherdeck. It can also be lowered to slope downwards at 20deg., with the toe 3m below the waterline, to enable flat-bottomed floating items such as barges to be hauled aboard over Teflon sheeting - the slip-on/slip-off (SoSo) mode. Forward of the machinery space, the main deck is formed by seven full-width rolling panels, some of which can be lowered to form ramps leading down to the tank top. The weatherdeck hatchcovers can be stowed forward to give the ship an open configuration into which rolling cargoes of unrestricted height can be loaded. The article includes a diagram showing these and other features of the cargo arrangements. Also, the port funnel and casing can be removed to accommodate wide loads across the weatherdeck. Propulsion is by a B&W-Alpha package with an 8L32F engine rated at 1140kW at 775 rpm and geared to a c.p. propeller running in a flapped steering nozzle. A pto drives a 400kW alternator; this can be used as a motor, fed from the diesel/generator sets, to give the ship a take-home speed of 5 knots, plus manoeuvring capability, in the event of main-engine failure. Principal particulars are: length 88.7m o.a.; breadth 13.8m; max. draught 5.11m; 2515 dwt; gross register 999t; capacities: 210,000 cu ft bale, 214 TEUs, 480 cars; speed 13 knots; complement 10.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Lloyd's Ship Manager, 7(1986), p.25(Oct.) [ 2 pp., 1 tab., 1 fig., 2 phot.]
• Publication Date: 1986

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• Old TRIS Terms: Alster rapid
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00690569
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM