Jumbo heavy-lifts for Damen

Damen Shipyards Gorinchem has won a contract from the Dutch shipowner, Jumbo Navigation for a state-of-the-art heavy-lift vessel with an option for a second vessel. These will be similar to the two vessels delivered by Damen in 2004 and named ?Jumbo Javelin? and ?Fairpartner?. The newbuildings will be constructed and delivered by Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania, with delivery for the first unit scheduled in February 2008.

The order was placed as a result of the growing demand in the evolving oil & gas industry onshore and offshore and is specially intended to load and discharge heavy industrial plant via a lift on/lift off method by means of two 800 tonne lifting capacity cranes. Furthermore, the vessels will be capable of transporting cargoes with unrestricted length and width on the main deck hatches and will also be certified for sailing with open hatches.

The vessels will have a length of 144.57 m, a beam of 26.50 m and a depth of 14.10 m. The design draft will be 6.50 m with a maximum draught of 8.10 m giving corresponding deadweights of approx. 8,200 and 13,000 tonnes.

Propulsion is by means of two 4.500 kW diesel engines driving two 4,350 mm controllable pitch propellers, giving a service speed of approx. 17,5 knots. Two tunnel thrusters of 1,450 kW each and one retractable thruster of 1,700 kW provide the necessary side thrust for manoeuvring, station keeping and DP operations. Classification includes a DP-2 notation from Lloyds Register.

Electrical power is generated by two shaft generators (3,000 kW each) and three dedicated diesel generator sets of respectively 2 x 2,281 and 1x 550 kVA.

The cargo cranes will have a lifting load of 800 ton with a maximum reach of 28 m over starboard side and 32 m over port side. The ballast system will provide the possibility to counteract crane operations by means of 3 x 700 m3/hr pumps. Additionally stability pontoons will be provided in order to be able to lift 1,600 tonne on a reach of 14 m.

Cargo can be stored either on the pontoon hatches or in the upper or lower cargo hold (respectively approx. 102 x 17 x 6.85 m and 83 x 17 x 6 m).