the superlative Car Carrier - MV Tonsberg

Ships greatly interest us and perhaps you could have seen oddly shaped vessels at sea…….  –these are RORO ships [roll-on / roll-off] designed to carry wheeled cargo – i.e., the vessels could simply be driven into the waiting ship and then transported.  RORO vessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port.  There are various types of  RORO vessels  in the form of ferries,  cargo ships, and barges.  Then there is the specialised automobile carrier often termed as  Pure Car Carrier.

Over the years, manufacture and export of cars have increased dramatically and going by the demand the Pure Car Carriers have also increased.  They have a distinctive design looking like a rectangular box like structure running the entire lengty and breadth of hull fully enclosing the cargo.  Advanced Car carriers have liftable decks to increase vertical clearance and have heavier decks for high and heavy cargo.  They can carry thousands of cars at a time.

Graphical representation of carriage

Wilh Wilhelmsen group has launched its 150th anniversary vessel MV Tønsberg into operation. The Mark V class is the most sophisticated vessel ever built in the roll on roll off segment. This new vessel is set to revolutionise the way Car Carriers have been moving -  at  265 metres long and 32.26 metres wide  (Panamax), the Mark V is the largest roll-on/roll-off carrier in the world.  The Company claims that extensive model testing was undertaken to ensure that the hull lines minimise resistance and increase fuel efficiency. The improved stability of the vessel also reduces the need for ballast water

It is MV Tonsberg,  the vessel of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics  - designed to support larger and heavier cargo, the Mark V vessels use the latest technology and innovative design features to increase capacity, reduce emissions and significantly lower fuel consumption. The Mark V vessel will service the round-the-world trade – the largest of its kind, with 50,335 square metres in deck area, of which 31,250 square metres is reserved for high and heavy cargo. The strengthened stern ramp has a 500-tonne capacity, and cargo can even be loaded on the weather deck, which has a ramp from the deck below.  The vessel was built by  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Japan.  The 12-metre-wide stern ramp has a 500-tonne capacity, compared to the 380-tonne capacity of the previous model. The improved ramp strength caters to larger and heavier cargo than before.

According to the Company’s release this is a Round the World service - a 110 - 120 days roundtrip from Europe to US East Coast, Oceania, South East Asia, Far East, US West Coast, US East Coast across the Atlantic back to Europe.  The vessel has 3 hoistable decks for flexibility and maximum utilisation.  Transverse ventilation of cargo holds to be arranged.  Cargo securing by means of closely spaced circular holes and cloverleaves. Side lashing points arranged on all heavy decks and top lashing points on the main deck to secure high and  heavy cargoes.  The vessel has nine decks to carry vehicles, is 870 feet long and 105 feet wide. The vehicles are driven on and off the ship via a stern ramp that folds down from a stowed position.   More vessels of the similar type are expected to be added to this fleet.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.  Claims that MV Tønsberg and  their newbuilding programme  is intended to provide  better service, more options and more capacity for the  customers. They claim that the  Mark V will use 15 to 20% less fuel per transported unit than its predecessors, thanks to a optimised hull form and a number of energy saving features such as the streamlined rudder design and duck tail.

Reportedly, MV Tønsberg is the fourth vessel with this name in the Wilh. Wilhelmsen fleet. It is named after the coastal town in Norway where Wilh. Wilhelmsen was founded in 1861. MV Tønsberg is the Wilh. Wilhelmsen group’s 150th anniversary vessel.  The specifications of the vessels are given as  :

Length overall 265 m

Length Betweeen Perpendiculars 250 m

Breadth (moulded) Panamax: 32.26 m

Depth to Upper Deck (moulded) 33.22 m

Depth to Main Deck (moulded) 15.20 m

Design draught 11 m

Scantling draught 12.30 m

Deadweight design: 31,824 t

scantling: 41,554 t

Gross tonnage 76,500 gt

Classification  :  Malta flag and under survey of Det Norske Veritas with the following class notations

+ 1A1 General Cargo Carrier /  RO/RO, PWDK, PET, MCDK, E0, TMON

It really appears to be an innovation of its kind and will be treat to watch if it were to call at your Port

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

PS : Post made on 23.12.2011 and posted  now.....