VESSEL REVIEW | V Aldo & V Cinque – New 40,000DWT open-hatch bulkers for Italy’s Visentini
Venice-based shipowner Visentini Giovanni Trasporti Fluviomarittimi now operates two new geared bulk carriers built by China's Dajin Heavy Industry.
V Aldo and V Cinque are both registered in Malta and were built to a design developed by Shanghai Bestway Marine Engineering Design. Alessandro Visentini said in a company statement that the design work focused on operational flexibility, with the optimised design of the hull and cargo spaces, “guarantee[ing] exceptional cargo capacity.”
The sisters each have an LOA of 179.9 metres (590.2 feet), a beam of 30 metres (98 feet), and a moulded depth of 15.2 metres (50 feet). They each carry 40,573 DWT on a summer draught of 10.96 metres (35.96 feet), with 50.8 tonnes per centimetre immersion. Gross and net tonnages are 25,175 and 13,711, respectively.
The ships' maximum speed has been given as about 13.5 knots.
Cargo-carrying flexibility suitable for global trade
The design is aimed at mixed dry cargo trades rather than pure bulk. The builder said the ships can carry bulk, general and oversized cargoes, grain and coal, as well as steel coils and a range of solid dangerous goods.
The ships each have five holds under five hatches, with a combined capacity of 50,409 cubic metres (1.78 million cubic feet) for grain and 49,413 cubic metres (1.745 million cubic feet) for bale.
The class notations include BC-A with holds two and four permitted to be empty, allowing alternate hold loading of dense cargoes. The ships are also heavy-cargo strengthened.
Other notations listed for the pair are CSR, CPS(WBT), ESP, GRAB[25], BWT, Green Passport, AUT-UMS, MON-SHAFT and INWATERSURVEY, with unrestricted navigation.
Enhanced safety and emissions reduction systems
Cargo handling is done by four deck cranes, each rated at 30.5 tonnes at 26 metres (85 feet) outreach. V Aldo was delivered with four nine-tonne Janus grabs.
The holds also have electrical ventilation, Australian hold ladders, smoke detection sensors, and CO2 fire suppression systems. An A60 bulkhead is also fitted.
V Aldo is driven through a single propeller by one MAN B&W 5S50ME-C 9.7-HPSCS main engine, which the builder said complies with IMO Tier III emission standards.
The company said the ships form part of an industrial plan to reduce the environmental impact of its operations through lower fuel consumption and emissions.
V Aldo has been fixed on a two-year charter with Intermarine. Visentini has also exercised an option for a third 40,000DWT bulker from the same builder.
