Shipping, shipbuilding, offshore news

October 4, 2006

Incat's Milenium Tres heads for Spain

Incat's 98 m wave piercing catamaran Milenium Tres is on its delivery voyage from Tasmania to Spain's Acciona Trasmediterranea.

Milenium Tres is the sixth Incat high speed catamaran to join the Acciona Trasmediterranea fleet.

The new vessel left Hobart on September 25 at the start of its 12,000 nautical miles delivery voyage. It is expected to arrive at Melilla during the second week of October before entering service from there to Almeria and Malaga.

With capacity for up to 900 persons and 267 cars at speeds of approximately 40 knots, Milenium Tres is the twelfth vessel in Incat's 96/98 m range and brings to sixteen the number of Incat vessels operating in Southern European waters.

Technical

The ship's four MAN B&W 16RK280 engines, each rated at a minimum 7200 kW @ 1000 rpm MCR, offer a high power to weight ratio. The latest combustion chamber technology with electronically controlled pump pipe injection system and optimized cylinder pressures, reduces fuel consumption to a Specific Fuel Consumption of less than 190g/kWh.

The engines each drive transom-mounted steerable Wartsila-Lips 120E water jets via 4 x ZF 53000 NRH gearboxes. All four waterjets are configured for steering and reversing, while an independent hydraulic system in each hull covers the steering and reverse functions.

Maneuvering and directional control is enhanced through the use of retractable trim tabs that maximise moment force from water jet side/reverse thrust and optimization of force/moment positioning.

Four Caterpillar 3406B 230 kW generators are fitted, each being rated with a 10% for one hour overload capacity. The generators are arranged for automatic startup and paralleling, the automation considering one unit maintained as a standby set.

Sea keeping qualities are enhanced by Maritime Dynamics/Incat Ride Control System, consisting of transom mounted trim tabs and a retractable T-foil. These, combined with Incat's unique hull form featuring long outer bows, fuller midship sections, stern skeglets and centre bow clearances, means Motion Sickness Incidence has been reduced by up to 40% in higher sea states by reducing pitch, roll and heave, the major contributors to passenger discomfort.

Milenium Tres is equipped with four Liferaft Systems Australia Marine Evacuation Stations, two port and two starboard. Each MES serves a total of 200 persons. A total of ten 100-person rafts are fitted. Two SOLAS inflatable rescue boats, each with 30 hp motors, are provided for launch and recovery operations.

Hobart-based company Colbeck & Gunton supply the lightweight structural fire protection system aboard Milenium Tres including fire doors and dampers. To protect all moderate and high risk spaces The 'Rapid Access' (deckhead) and 'Lightweight' (bulkhead) fire protection system meets all the demands for lighter weight and faster installation/removal for this type of craft. An addressable fire detection system, CCTV cameras, zoned fire sprinkler systems and hydrants protect engine rooms, vehicle decks and passenger areas.

Accommodations

Like other Incat ships in the Acciona Trasmediterranea fleet, the passenger spaces on Milenium Tres are located on one deck, with three distinctive lounge areas along its length, each featuring its own style of seating, color scheme and facilities.

A new feature introduced on board Milenium Tres is fully enclosed port and starboard side aft staircases leading car passengers from the vehicle deck direct to the vessel's aft cabin. On previous 98 m vessels these staircases have been external to the accommodations.

The aft cabin is predominately a spacious Business Class lounge .

Immediately forward of the Business Class Lounge and located on the port and starboard side of the main aft amenity block, which contains male and females toilets, are further lounge areas each containing 41 recliner seats.

The Midships Lounge is the hub for many onboard activities and is also where foot passengers join the vessel by way of shell doors port and starboard. The central square, containing 48 Ocean Tub seats set in clusters around tables, is surrounded by a gift shop and a cafeteria while outboard of the passageways leading forward and aft, are two lounges each containing 168 Ocean Tourist High Back reclining seats.

Just forward of the shop area in the forward cabin is an amenities block which not only contains male and female passenger toilets plus a unisex disability toilet/baby changing area, but also the crew room and entry to the next deck , housing the split level electronics room and wheelhouse.

The wheelhouse onboard Milenium Tres provides 360-degree visibility for the officers over the top of the aerodynamic superstructure, while an aft-facing docking console and CCTV monitors negate the need for bridge wings with their associated windage and weight.

The control station is fitted with electronic, navigation and communications equipment in compliance with the High Speed Craft Code. There are three forward facing adjustable seats around the center line, the Captain sitting in the center, with the Navigator to starboard and the Chief Engineer to port.

The Forward Lounge on Milenium Tres provides a panoramic 300º view of the horizon via sweeping tinted windows which are equipped with a washing system ensuring the windows remain clean during a voyage and valuable operator/crew time can be spent on ships maintenance rather than cleaning windows.

The area features a fully equipped bar with facilities to serve a wide variety of food and beverages. Outboard of the passenger walkways are two comfortable lounges where passengers may relax in Ocean Tourist High Back reclining seats, surrounded by panoramic windows again affording excellent sea views. Raised lounge areas immediately forward enable passengers to relax in Ocean Tub seating, arranged around tables, while taking in the vast and spectacular views over the ships bows.

Access to the vehicle decks from the forward lounges is by way of a wheelchair-friendly ramp. Passengers with disabilities can park adjacent to the vehicle deck access door, away from the general movement of cars on the main vehicle deck, and move in safety to the passenger cabin.

The vehicle deck on board Milenium Tres offers freight space for 380 truck lane metres at 3.1 m wide x 4.35 m clear height.

The fitting of nine hoistable mezzanine vehicle decks gives the operator the flexibility to carry up to 267 cars, or 12 freight trailers with 180 cars, or 24 road freight trailers with 85 cars while offering the headroom demanded by freight vehicles when raised. Suitable for heavy road transport vehicles the main vehicle deck also benefits from unrestricted height for 6 metres and an unobstructed width of 18 metres at the stern. Clear lane markings are painted on the deck to ensure fast vehicle loading and unloading via two articulated stern loading ramps.

HSC Milenium Tres Principle Particulars Dimensions

Length:	97.22 m overall.
		92.00 m waterline.
Beam:	26.60 m extreme
Beam of hulls:	4.50 m
Draft:	3.43 m loaded

Propulsion

Main Engines		Four MAN B&W 16RK280 marine diesel engines, each rated at a minimum 7200 kW @ 1000 rpm MCR at 32/45 Celsius.
Water Jets	Four x Lips 120E waterjets configured for steering and reverse.
Transmission	Four x ZF 53000 NRH gearboxes.
Alternators	Four x Caterpillar 3406B, 230 kW.
Speed - max:		48 knots @ 100% mcr.
Ride Control	A 'Maritime Dynamics' active ride control system combining, active trim tabs aft and retractable T-foil located at aft end of centre bow fitted with active fins.

Capacities

Deadweight:	725 tonnes approx
Persons:	Up to 900.
Vehicle deck:	267 cars or 380 truck lane metres plus 85 cars, or a combination of both.
Axle Loads:	Transom to Frame 49 - maximum 12 tonnes per dual tire /single axle group or axle group loads.
Forward of Frame 49 Ramp		2.0 tonnes per single tyre/single axle group.
	Ramps B, C and Mezzanine Decks - 0.8 tonnes per axle.

Tankage	Fuel Oil - 190,000 liters
Certification

Classification:		DNV ðX1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry "B" EO Certificate.
DNV Speed / Wave Height Parameters
-	50 knots: 0.0 2.0 SWH
-	45 knots: 2.0 2.5 SWH
-	40 knots: 2.5 3.0 SWH
-	35 knots: 3.5 4.0 SWH
-	32 knots: 4.0 4.5 SWH
-	30 knots: 4.5 5.0 SWH
-	Seek Shelter 5.0 + SWH

Navigational Equipment

GPS	-	2 x Leica MX420/8 Differential GPS
Radars	-	Captain - Kelvin Hughes MANTA 1700 Radar X Band at 48rpm, with 15" True motion performance monitor including auto track and geographics
	-	Navigator - Kelvin Hughes MANTA 1700 Radar S Band with 15" Arpa performance monitor inc. auto track and geographics
	-	Radar interswitching
Autopilot	-	Lips integrated with the control system
Gyro Compass	-	Anschutz STD 22 + repeater
Magnetic Compass	-	C Plath type 2060
Hand Held Compass	-	Suunto Commander
Electronic Chart System	-	Kelvin Hughes Ecdis MANTA 1700 2027
Depth Sounder	-	Skipper GDS-101 plus IR301 Repeater
Speed / Distance Log	-	Walker 7070 electromagnetic with interface to radars, GPS and autopilot.
Wind Speed/Direction -	Walker 7070
Weather Fax	-	JMC FX220
Telex NDBP	-	JMC NT900
Signal Horn	-	Ibuki (air operated)
Daylight Signal Lamp	-	Aldis Lamp 24 Volt 60 WattDC Francis FSP 127mm
Search Light	-	DHR DEN HAAN 22ORC 220 (220v \ 300W) mounted on fwd mast with remote control - Den Hann
Machinery Monitoring	-	Servowatch SIMS Shipboard Integrated Management Systems
VDR	-	Kelvin Hughes
AIS	-	Saab R4
SSAS	-	Purple Finder / Pole Star
Night vision	-	NVTi camera and associated system.

MF/HF/DSC TX/RX Radio		-	Sailor HT4520			}
MF/HF Controller		-	Sailor HC4500B		}
MF/HF ATU		-	Sailor HC4525			}
VHF / DSC Radios		-	2 x Sailor RT4822		} To comply with GMDSS
Hand Held Radios inc. chargers.	-	3 x Sailor SP3110		} Sea Area 1, 2 & 3
EPIRB (406 Mhz)		-	Sailor 406MHz		}
SART		-	2 x Sailor 56-853 9GHz	}
Satcom C			-	Transceiver Sailor H2095C	}
			-	Display Sailor DT4646E	}
Aeronautical			-	VHF AM Emergency Transceiver}
				Jotron TronAIR

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