New Chinese-built ice-class vessels destined for Europe

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co. Ltd has launched its latest ice-class vessel, the m.v. Thamesborg, it was announced last week.

The vessel has been built for the transportation company, Royal Wagenborg, based in the Netherlands, which is expecting to receive the vessel in January 2013.

The Thamesborg is the first vessel in a series of 21,000 tonnes, 1A ice classed, multi-purpose vessels, which the Chinese yard is building for Royal Wagenborg. The vessels in this series are equipped with four 60 tonne cranes.

The launching and naming ceremony of the Thamesborg has also coincided with the delivery of the m.v. Alaskaborg to Royal Wagenborg from the Shanghai shipyard.

The Alaskaborg is the twenty-first vessel in a row of Wagenborg’s 1A ice-classed, multipurpose vessels of 17,500 dwt, which has been built by the Chinese yard. The 17,500 dwt vessels are each fitted with three 60 tonne deck-cranes.

Both the 17,500 and 21,000 dwt series of multi-purpose vessels operate with 7500 kW Wärtsilä 6L 46F main engines, which are equipped with Variable Inlet Valve systems that enable the engines to run safely on medium or low loads.

In addition to vessels built with ice-class, China has recently embarked on a program of building specific ice-breaking vessels, primarily for research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.