Flexible gear for multipurpose Vessels

A grain/bale capacity of 22,000m3 is provided in three holds with removable tweendecks, allowing the ships to be configured as box-shaped double-hulled single-deckers. Container capacity is around 1,000 TEU.

Each hold will have a MacGregor high-stowing Foldtite hatch cover set whose end-folding panel-pair is operated by external hydraulic cylinders, and intermediate folding-pair operated by bell crank arms.

The bell crank arm mechanism inside the hatch coaming was devised to operate the forward-stowing panels of No 2 hatch, allowing more space for the cargo crane and passage ways, says MacGregor.

The weather deck covers can carry container stack loads ranging from 45/60t (20ft units) to 65/90t (45ft units), and the tweendeck covers are designed to accept a uniformly distributed load of 4.70 t/m2 and container stack loads of 45t (TEUs) and 60t (FEUs).