VESSEL REVIEW | Rossini – GEFO Shipping's deep sea-capable chemical tanker with methanol-ready propulsion

Germany’s GEFO Shipping Group recently took delivery of a new stainless steel oil/chemical tanker built by Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard in China.

Rossini is the first tanker in a new series of 3.850DWT deep-sea vessels to be operated by GEFO. She is also the second ship in the company’s fleet to bear the name, the first being a slightly smaller 3,050DWT tanker built in 2000.

The newbuild has an LOA of 99.94 metres (327.9 feet), a beam of 13.95 metres (45.77 feet), a draught of 5.5 metres (18 feet), a depth of 7.4 metres (24 feet), a gross tonnage of 3,332, and 12 segregated cargo tanks with a total capacity of 4,200 cubic metres.

The segregated tanks will allow multiple liquid product types and grades to be carried simultaneously on each voyage.

Reduced capacity ideal for regional liquid cargo trade

Although designed to be capable of deep-sea as well as coastal navigation, Rossini is optimised for transporting smaller total quantities compared to her contemporaries.

This will enable GEFO to serve a broader market segment where the requirement is primarily for reduced loads for each customer, whether within Europe or across continents.

The tanker’s propulsion arrangement includes diesel engines fitted with a selective catalytic reduction system to ensure compliance with IMO Tier III NOx emissions standards.

The engines can also be configured in the future to permit operation on methanol as a low-emission alternative fuel.

Shore power capability coupled with wind-assist propulsion

A shore power connection will enable the vessel to plug in to the local grid for her electricity requirements instead of using the onboard generators when berthed.

To further reduce fuel consumption and the resulting emissions, a rotor-type wind-assist propulsion unit supplied by Norsepower will augment the main diesel engines during transit.

The ship’s hull has been strengthened to ice class 1C standards, allowing her to navigate independently in first-year surface ice of between 15 and 30 cm (six and 12 inches) thick.

Rossini was built in compliance with DNV class requirements. The tanker currently sails under the flag of Cyprus.