FSG Designs and Newbuilds

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

marinelink.com/Story/ShowStory.aspx?StoryID=213914

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Flensburger Newbuilding No. 749

On Friday Dec 19 the naming and launching ceremony of a new 634 ft RoRo freight ferry will take place in Flensburg, Germany.

The freight ferry is the thirteenth of fourteen RoRo vessels, which our longstanding Turkish customer U.N. Ro-Ro has ordered with Flensburger. U.N. Ro-Ro is in ownership of the private investor KKR (New York), who took over the shipping company U.N Ro-Ro in 2007.

The vessel will be christened Cüneyt Solakoglu. The vessel’s godmother is Mrs. Zeynap Feryal Solakoglu, spouse of Mr. Cüneyt Solakoglu (CEO of UN RoRo).

Main particulars of the U.N. Ro-Ro ferries:
Length o.a. 634 ft
Breadth 85. 3 ft
Draught 21 ft
Propulsion power 2 x 8,400 kW
Crew 23
Speed 21.5 knots
Trailer capacity 255 trailers (at 42.7 ft length)
Payload 11,636 dwt

As of December 2008, the order books of the FSG are filled until the beginning of 2013, with the following vessels to be delivered:
• 2 RoRo freight-ferries for U.N. Ro-Ro, Turkey
• 1 passenger- / freight-ferry for BC Ferries, Canada
• 6 ConRo vessels for Cobelfret N.V., Belgium
• 2 RoFlex vessels for Rettig Group Ltd., Finland
• 4 RoRo freight-ferries for Seatruck Ferries Ltd., United Kingdom
• 3 RoRo freight-ferries for Ulusoy Sealines, Turkey

(www.fsg-ship.de)

[Kam]

From the Maritime News today:

marinelink.com/en-US/News/Article/329956.aspx

Delivery of the Cüneyt Solakoglu

On Thursday, 12th March 2009, another newbuilding for Flensburger´s Turkish customer U.N RO-RO will be delivered on time and will leave the yard on Saturday, 14th March 2009, early in the morning.

The main particulars of the ferry are:
Length o.a. 193.30 m
Breadth 26.0 m
Draught 6.45 m
Propulsion power 2 x 8,400 kW
Crew 23
Speed 21.50 kn
Trailer capacity 255 trailers (at 13.6m length)
Lane meters 3,735 m
Payload 11,636 tdw

The ferry, Cüneyt Solakoglu, is the thirteenth of fourteen RoRo vessels for Turkish customer. U.N RoRo.

At present Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG has a total of 16 vessels on order:
- 1 RoRo freight-ferries for U.N. Ro-Ro, Turkey
- 6 ConRo vessels for Cobelfret N.V., Belgium
- 2 RoFlex vessels for Rettig Group Ltd., Finland
- 4 RoRo freight-ferries for Seatruck Ferries Ltd., United Kingdom
- 3 RoRo freight-ferries for Ulusoy Sealines, Turkey

[herrbrinkmann]

Cüneyt Solakoglu will depart FSG tommorow (Saturday) around 7:00 o´clock local Flensburger time. She will sail via Skagen to Istanbul/Turkey.

[FNS]

Thank you for the heads up. Will be watching the FSG webcam tonight.


Final night for the Turkish ship at FSG. Inside the "Shipbuilder's Cathedral", we see that the next new ship has her nose now. Looking really great!

[FNS]

CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU Departs FSG

Best wishes to this ship and her crew for a great voyage to Istanbul!



Some plots:
0113PDT, 54.8339, 009.6817, SE, 00.7 (Must be testing things)
0200PDT, 54.8355, 009.8238, E, 20.8
0400PDT, 54.7326, 010.8078, N, 21.3
0500PDT, 55.0752, 011.0550, N, 22.0
0551PDT, Under the Great Belt Bridge


I was hoping to get an image of this ship as she sailed under the Bridge, but a deck of low clouds prevented this.


She is well underway. So, this is it for tracking for now. Perhaps one plot at the north end of Denmark and one in the English Channel may be my next offerings.

[Starsteward]

Another fine FSG ship on it's way! Godspeed!

[cohocatcher]

I recently noticed that the FSG web site no longer supplies dates for the various phases of the ships that they are currently building, have previously built, and will build in the future. Did I miss a reason for these omissions?

[Starsteward]

Hey cohocatcher, just checked the FSG site and went through the different sections and your findings that the 'building-schedule' no longer appears anywhere seems apparent.
I think they were there up until the launch of the NorEx but must confess I really stopped paying real close attention after that so maybe one of our other members could shed more light on this apparent change to the FSG website.

[FNS]

Good morning!

The CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU continues on her way to Istanbul. She had just spent a bit over nine hours at anchor inside a bay called Albaek Bugt getting bunkered. She was bunkered by either the FOX SUNRISE or TAMINA or both. If you remember the UN KARADENIZ's trip, the TAMINA was the one bunkering her outside of Gothenburg, Sweden. A picture of the TAMINA is on the previous page of this thread (Page 3).



Departure was at 0100PDT today, and she rounded Skagen at about 0145PDT to enter the North Sea.



As you can see, she has traveled a great distance so far.

Some final plots for this tracking session:

03-14-2009

1254PDT, Met STENA SCANDINAVICA off Laeso.

1343PDT, 57.5055, 011.3791, N, 20.9, Met COLOR MAGIC.
After meeting this ferryliner, the CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU deviated from the main shipping traffic pattern and headed to Albaek Bugt where she would anchor and get bunkered from one or two of the above mentioned mini tankers.

1550PDT, 57.6307, 010.6942, Anchored in Albaek Bugt.

*** *** ***

That's it for tracking for awhile. The next plot would be in the English Channel, subject to my availability to do this and time.

Again, best wishes to the CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU and her crew for a great trip!

[FNS]

Good evening!

The CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU made great progress. At 0353PDT, she passed over the Chunnel area at a great speed of 23.3 knots.



There were a couple of more plots of interest today I'll give you.



The next one was when she was south of the Isle of Wight at 0930PDT at 23.6 knots.

She met the Atlantic Ocean at 1730PDT. She'll then continue south along the French and Spanish coastlines before entering the Mediterranean at Gibraltar.

Welcome to the Atlantic, CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU!

[FNS]

At about 2100PDT, 03-18-2009, the CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU entered the Mediterranean at Gibraltar. She was traveling at a brisk speed of a bit more than 21 knots. Won't be long until she reaches home in Istanbul.

This has been a fast delivery!

[FNS]

Here's an update as of 1845PDT, 03-20-2009:

The CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU continues on her voyage to Istanbul, Turkey. I've spotted her on a tracking site, at the time mentioned in my opening sentence of this posting, passing between Sicily and Malta. Her propellers are driving her at an excellent speed of some 22 knots.

Unless there are other plans, this ship will alter course and head for the southern coastlines of Greece and navigate her way onto the Aegean Sea, then enter a narrow passage and enter the Sea of Marmara on the final stretch to Istanbul.

Right now, she's about halfway between Gibraltar and Istanbul.

[FNS]

Good afternoon!

At about 1345PDT, 03-21-2009, the CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU was spotted passing between the islands of Elafonisos and Kythira along the southern coastlines of Greece. And, just moments ago, she met her sister UN KARADENIZ bound for Trieste, Italy. Would be fun to learn if both greeted each other with their whistles?

The CS is now heading up the channel dotted with islands before entering the Aegean Sea at a handsome speed of 22 knots.

[FNS]

AMENDED

The CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU has arrived at her berth. This is the UN RORO Terminal there at Istanbul.

My revised posting:

Good Monday morning here on the Pacific Coast!

Another chapter of the exciting shipbuilding history of FSG has now been read as the CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU has arrived at her destination. The ship stopped just outside of her intended berth at Istanbul. The arrival in this area was at 1200PDT yesterday. She joined about two or so dozen other ships at anchor. She then made her move and berthed at the UN RORO Terminal at 0001PDT this morning.

Just as she was arriving, she met another sister. This was the UN MARMARA as she was heading out on another trip.

So, the VET clock stopped at 9 days, 0 hours, 34 minutes.

Some final plots of interest:

03-13-2009, 2325PDT, Depart FSG.
03-14-2009, 0551PDT, Under Great Belt Bridge.
03-14-2009, 1550PDT, Arrived anchorage, Albaek Bugt, Bunker.
03-15-2009, 0100PDT, Departed Albaek Bugt, rounded Skagen, entered North Sea.
03-16-2009, 0353PDT, Over Chunnel area, English Channel, 23 knots.
03-16-2009, 0930PDT, South of Isle of Wight, 23 knots.
03-16-2009, 1730PDT, On the Atlantic Ocean.
03-18-2009, 2100PDT, Entered the Mediterranean at Gibraltar, 21 knots.
03-20-2009, 1845PDT, Between Sicily and Malta, 22 knots.
03-21-2009, 1345PDT, Between Greek islands of Elafonisos and Kythira, 22 knots.
03-22-2009, 1200PDT, Arrival Istanbul area. Awaits entry to her berth.
03-23-2009, 0001PDT, Arrival at berth at UN RORO Terminal.

Mr. Brinkmann has the manuscript ready for the next ship. We'll await that chapter's publishing.

WELCOME HOME, CUNEYT SOLAKOGLU!

*** *** *** END *** *** ***

[lmtengs]

BCF should order one for a Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert Route

Edited to fix Tsawwassen typo.

[Mill Bay]

Jul 16, 2009 11:53:11 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

BCF should order one for a Tswassen to Prince Rupert Route

We can't get much farther away from reality than that.

[Balfour]

Jul 16, 2009 11:53:11 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

BCF should order one for a Tswassen to Prince Rupert Route

Funny that you mention that because BC Ferries had such a service at one time. It was served by both the QPR and the 'North. I am uncertain if it was cut due to a lack of money or a lack of demand.

[Low Light Mike]

Jul 16, 2009 12:41:12 GMT -8 Balfour said:

Jul 16, 2009 11:53:11 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

BCF should order one for a Tswassen to Prince Rupert Route

Funny that you mention that because BC Ferries had such a service at one time. It was served by both the QPR and the 'North. I am uncertain if it was cut due to a lack of money or a lack of demand.

That route is likely going to happen again, but not with a newly purchased ship, unless it's the NorEx. I think there is great market potential for passenger mini-cruises from Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert, to utilize the NorEx's great new amenities, including those staterooms, the theatre, and the great restaurant.

But most of us realize that BC Ferries is totally unable to buy another new ship for that purpose.

[lmtengs]

Jul 16, 2009 12:49:57 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Jul 16, 2009 12:41:12 GMT -8 Balfour said:

Funny that you mention that because BC Ferries had such a service at one time. It was served by both the QPR and the 'North. I am uncertain if it was cut due to a lack of money or a lack of demand.

That route is likely going to happen again, but not with a newly purchased ship, unless it's the NorEx. I think there is great market potential for passenger mini-cruises from Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert, to utilize the NorEx's great new amenities, including those staterooms, the theatre, and the great restaurant.

But most of us realize that BC Ferries is totally unable to buy another new ship for that purpose.

I remember reading about the TSA to Rupert route, and hearing about it from my grandpa, who hasn't left the ocean for 67 years.
Also, didn't the ferry used to stop in Kelsey Bay on the way there and back?

[lmtengs]

One little addition: I said earlier that BCF should buy an ICON ship, now i've decided that they shouldn't. It just doesn't look 'BC Ferries-ish' enough. They should get another more traditional ferry, like what they already have, but larger.

EDIT: as of 2011, BCF should get one again, but a slightly modified version.

[Kahloke]

They don't need another ferry for that route. Norex should work just fine.

[FNS]

May 28, 2011 23:23:41 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Check out a futuristic looking ferry, from FSG:

- on the webpage, click on the "our latest design" box in the bottom-right corner, and then play the video

- or under the "our products" menu, click on the "go for ICON" choice

www.fsg-ship.de/

This has been up for quite awhile.

Here are a few screen captures of this amazing envision:


The aft end.


The forward end.


The ICON has a feature like what the old Wooden-Electrics had here on our West Coast. This is a humpback sheer on the passenger deck.


As you can see, from a postcard in my collection, the former Wooden-Electric CHETZEMOKA had a very slight humpback sheer in her design.


The humpback sheer is much greater in this inside view as passengers would climb a "hill" to reach amidships before going down at the other end. The decking should have a non-slip surface. Don't even think about skateboarding or using roller skates on this vessel!


Those windows would be subject to lots of cleaning due to droppings from seagulls in the various ports.

Very neat concept. I hope FSG builds one!

[mrdot]

:osome of these new FSG designs rival many of the new ones I've seen posted on the shipspotters site, for the ugliest vessels afloat! I guess I'am just stuck in the old traditional mode of yesterday! :'(mrdot.

[EGfleet]

May 29, 2011 9:23:08 GMT -8 mrdot said:

:osome of these new FSG designs rival many of the new ones I've seen posted on the shipspotters site, for the ugliest vessels afloat! I guess I'am just stuck in the old traditional mode of yesterday! :'(mrdot.

Sign me up for the "traditional mode of yesterday." ;D
I totally agree with you.

[Barnacle]

May 29, 2011 2:02:28 GMT -8 FNS said:

The ICON has a feature like what the old Wooden-Electrics had here on our West Coast. This is a humpback sheer on the passenger deck.


As you can see, from a postcard in my collection, the former Wooden-Electric CHETZEMOKA had a very slight humpback sheer in her design.

Chetzemoka I most certainly did NOT have "humpback sheer" in her design. If you'll look at any photograph of the Chetzie or her sisters before they were twenty-five years old, you'll plainly see that the curve isn't there.

What is shown in that Clark's postcard is a condition called "hogging," and it's a common condition among wooden vessels, so named because it looks like a hog's back. The tendency to sag in the middle is called, appropriately enough, "sagging."

On a lot of wooden riverboats (it crops up there, don't ask me why) you would see large chains called "hogging chains" stretched between the masts of the vessel in an attempt to keep the vessel from pulling apart.

In any case, the curve was NOT designed into the old Chetzemoka. Nor was it designed into the Klahanie, Kehloken, or Skansonia. (The Vashon, for all her infirmity in her final years, never developed any noticeable sag or hog that I'm aware of.) That which you refer to as a "feature" isn't a feature; it's a defect.