Diamond concept brought to the Handysize market Carditt-based Graig Group has given ‘added dimension to its business offering by unveiling a 34,000dwt bulk carrier design developed jointly with Danish technical consultancy Carl Bro Marine, reports DavidTinsley. “Tis anticipated that the extension of Graig'Carl Bro's innovative Diamond double-hull bulker ‘concept to the Handysize sector ofthe market will soon be vindicated by a contract fora series of the new sype from interationally-emergent Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corp (Vinashin). ‘The cared, wide-hatched, sallow-deaught Diamond 534 perpetuates the key features and perceived long-term operational and structural benefits that have generated around 30 firm sales to date forthe first member of the family, the Diamond 53 Handymax (Spar: Lara, pesented in Significant Ships of 2008 ‘The versatile new 34,000dwt type offers 45,500m' of cargo capacity in five hos, bounded bby a double side shell and double bottom, alfordng increased safety and allowing structural arrangements which make for smooth, jobsiruction-fee, and squared-off hold spaces. Although there is no mandatory requirement for new bulk eariers to incorporate double hulls, 2s had seemed likely when the original Diamond 53 design project had been implemented, the Graig'Cart Bro solution bas proven to have wide appeal because of its perceived, long-run operational as well as safety meri Graiy’s success in demonstrating that a fall double-hull class ean be obtained at no cost penalty overa standard single side-skin design of| ‘comparable capacity ha had a signal bearing on ‘market intrest and sales to date, The company’s choice of Asian yards, and the nature of the agreements and projeet management, has been pivotal to the whole concept ‘The Diamond double-hull configuration presents a second barrier to accidental water ingress, and permits the bulkhead framing and ‘TECHNICAL PARTICULARS DIAMOND 34 BULKER Length, oa. 420,00 Length, Bp... 172.00 Breadth, moulded. .......-8000M Draught, scanting, 8.75m Deadweight 34,0000 Cargo hold capacity 145,500" Deck cranes. 4 x30tonnes. ‘Main engine power. 7800kW Service speed, at 9 ight, 80% MOR, 15% sea margin... 14.00knots Enduranc --approx 18,0000m Classification Det Norske Veritas ++1A1 Bulk Carrier ES(D), Nauticus (New Building), BC-A (Holds No 2 and 4 may be empty), ESP EO, GRAIN-U, IB(+), D&(+), HAH), TMON, BIS, FUEL ‘he Nast Anctecr Serine 20 AHA Ht tg Ps ‘Steel structural details proposed forthe hold midship section ofthe Diamond 24 bulk carer. se fames tobe arranged outside the holds, and within the inter-shell spaces. This makes for lush surfaces in the cargo spaces, facilitating and speeding discharge and cleaning, and potentially also. providing maintenance benefits. Ina ‘conventional, single sde-skin bulke, the strength members are exposed within the holds, which fend to call for more exacting unloading ‘operations with certain types of cargo, and an increased cleaning task. The water ballast ankage 0 formed by the intorshell spaces in the new Diamond 34 is protected by an epoxy paint formulation, ‘The double side-skin ensures safe access for close-up survey of the complete hull structure, ‘even when the vessel is loaded. Furthermore, ‘green water protection afforded by the raised forecastle and the fore-and-aft underdeck passageway contributes to the sae operation of| the ship. In addition, all piping and servic lines have been placed in the underdeck tunnel, making {or an unobstructed main deck, reduced exposure of ittngs to the elements, and potentially reduced ‘maintenance, ‘The robust Diamond 34 is suited very broad ‘ange of bulk commodities including col, grain, fore, cement, alumina, bauxite, mineral sand, Feriser sto products, serap iron, logs, packaged timber and certain dangerous "cargoes. Undertining the trading seope of the new class, 'ypical loading eondltions could include a heavy ‘grain or heavy ore cargo deadweight of 32.200tonnes, with a 1800tonne departure ‘deadweight, a the 9.75m scantlng draught, and with holds 2 and 4 empty inthe case of ore. Strengthened for steel coils An added merit of the design, and reflecting its Increased tanktop strength, isthe sultability for up to two tiers of 20tannes steel coils of 1.5m length tw be stowed on timber dunnage across all olds, providing a fll coil eargo carying capability. The heavy tanktop structure also imbues long-term protection against the rigours of grab discharge. ‘The holds have been specified with two levels of lashing. points, while the upper deck will incorporate timber sockets and lashing eyes so as to secure deck stows of logs and packaged timber. Solf-sustaining qualities in cargo working are conferred by a outfit of four high-stooled, level Iuffing deck cranes of 30tonne capacity, plumbing all five holds. A suite of end-folding, hydraulically-actuated, double-skin hatch covers with double cros-jint sealing has been specie, incorporating grainicement fecder openings. The hatchoays serving Nos holds inthe 30m-wide vessel are of generous proportions, measu 19.20m length by 20.80m breadth, while a somewhat smaller opening has been provided 0 No I hold “The design allords flexibility as to the choice of ‘wo-stroke main engine, with both Sulzer and MAN B&W marques. The draft specification foresees a de-rated installation producing a ‘maximum continuous output of 7600KW, with an attendant heavy fuel oil consumption of 1Tog/kWh. Extrapolation to the 6100KW continuous service rating fora vessel speed of ‘knots atthe seanding draught evidently results ina main engine consumption of 2640tonnes/da ‘coming down to 24,90tonnesday when operating at the desig draught. To minimise the risk of oil spillage in the event ofan accident, all heavy fuel oil and diesel oil wll be sored in coffer tanks in the engineroom, i envisaged tat the frst ofthe Diamond 345, will make her seagoing debut in mid 2007, underscoring the early delivery positions ‘obiainable in Vietnam Inthe meantime, a further tranche of Diamond 53 contracts isin the offing, realisation of which would take the worldwide tally of orders for the Handymax design beyond 30, Feedback from the five Diamond $3 ships delivered to date by Chengxi Shipyard and New ‘Century Shipbuilding. in China, and in service with Norway's Spar Shipping and the Turkish ‘operator Densan Shipping, has indicated that power requirements for the requisite service speeds are lower than expected. Masters have ‘also commended the class for its manoeuvrability, reducing the need for tug assistance in harbour, and for the benefits in Toading, discharge and cleaning times conferred by the nature and configuration of the cargo section 2 nint Wat i ahs iit “The proposed general arrangement pian for the Diamond 34 bulker, rece Serine 2005