VESSEL REVIEW | Southern Rock – Netherlands’ Hartman Seatrade welcomes newbuild to heavy lift fleet

Dutch shipping company Hartman Seatrade has begun operating a new Ro-Ro vessel that can also be used to transport containers and project cargo in support of the offshore energy industry and other customers.

Named Southern Rock, the vessel was built by a partnership between Dutch shipbuilders Neptune Marine and Hartman Marine Shipbuilding as well as Poland’s Partner Shipyard, where the hull was completed. It is the third in a planned series of four, the last example of which is scheduled for delivery to Hartman Seatrade before the end of this year.

Southern Rock and its sisters are the largest vessels in the Hartman Seatrade fleet, with each ship having a length of 114.25 metres, a beam of 10 metres, a gross tonnage of 3,636, and a deadweight of 4,540. The holds are reserved for a maximum of 1,267 lane metres of assorted vehicles or 132 TEUs while the 95- by 15.5-metre open top deck will transport project cargo such as wind turbine blades and towers or 240 TEUs. The cargo-carrying arrangement complies with IMO guidelines concerning the transport of dangerous goods.

The vehicle freight is loaded and unloaded via a seven-tonne stern ramp that can accommodate a 10-tonne wheel load. The stern also has two wings to create additional deck space, thus allowing the vessel to transport more cargo without increasing fuel consumption.

The propulsion arrangement includes a 1,600kW MGO main engine, auxiliary engines from Sandfirden Technics, a 400kW bow thruster, and a 300kW stern thruster. The propulsion system delivers a service speed of 12.5 knots. Also fitted are a ballast water treatment system, navigation equipment from Radio Holland, Breeman sanitation and air conditioning systems, and safety equipment from Datema Delfzijl. De Flux provided interior design work while Piet Brouwer Electrical Engineering was responsible for the electrical installations.

Southern Rock was built in compliance to Bureau Veritas class rules. It will be managed by Netherlands-based Amasus Shipping.

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