FSG Designs and Newbuilds

[herrbrinkmann]

www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1680:2011dec00143&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=107

FSG books ConRo ferry order from Canadian customer

Germany's Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft (FSG) reports that it has received an order from a Canadian customer for what, says the shipbuilder, will be one of the world's most environmentally friendly and innovative ConRo ferries.

The 210 m long ship will have a deadweight capacity of 19,000 tons, which is unusually high for ships of this type. It will feature a flexible layout of ramps and deck heights enabling the carriage of containers of various sizes, trucks, trailers and passenger autos. It will offer 1,700 lane m and space for 540 cars and 940 containers. The ship will feature a stern ramp, side ramps and fixed and suspended car decks. Antipollution measures will include an exhaust gas scrubber.

December 14, 2011

[Scott]

Here's an article with little more detailed information:

www.motorship.com/news101/fsg-bags-most-eco-friendly-con-ro-ferry

An excerpt:

Construction of the “modern, innovative, environmentally-friendly and flexible” ship starts next October and is scheduled to last until the end of 2013. The newbuild will be about 210m long and the yard said the 19,500dwt capacity was “unusually high” for a con-ro vessel. She will also be very flexible with ramps and clear deck heights for containers of different sizes as well as trucks, trailers and cars.

There will be 1700 lane metres and space for 540 cars and 940 standard containers. Equipment will include stern and side ramps and, in the lower hold, fixed car decks with suspended decks below them as well as an internal ramp system to serve individual trailer and car decks.

No engine details were given but FSG said all systems would be designed for world operation, meaning the highest ice class for tough conditions and temperatures down to -30ºC. All components will be of high-quality and well above market standard for ro-ro ships, FSG added .

I'm not 100% sure what "con-ro" stands for, but I'm pretty sure it's not a ro-ro. And in that case if it was BC Ferries, that would mean a northern vessel. However, the specs would pretty much eliminate that possibility. The ferry has the "ice-class" ratings and capacity for trailers and containers. My guess is it's a new Newfoundland ferry, and if it's not, I don't really know where else in Canada a ferry like this would be needed.

[mrdot]

:)as for the projected new build from the FSG wonderbuilder, as per the motorship specs, this is another glorified ro/pax, all similar to what this yard specalizes in, nothing pritty, but maybe it will be the first of the new improvements that mr. Hahn will bring to his new superposition at Marine Atlantic?? just crazy speculation on my part! mrdot.

[lmtengs]

Con-ro stands for Container Roll-on-roll-off.

I don't suppose Seaspan might be upgrading their fleet...? This does sound unusually large for that, though.

[Scott]

I guess there's nothing to indicate that it is even a passenger ferry. You would assume, if there's space for cars, there would probably be passenger accommodations. I know Marine Atlantic did (does?) have a more cargo-oriented ferry in addition to the pax-vehicle ferries. However they just chartered two newish vessels for the Newfoundland service. Marine Atlantic is also federally owned, and I wonder if they would go to Germany to build a new boat.

This is a bit mysterious.

[lmtengs]

Dec 15, 2011 23:36:28 GMT -8 Scott said:

I guess there's nothing to indicate that it is even a passenger ferry. You would assume, if there's space for cars, there would probably be passenger accommodations. I know Marine Atlantic did (does?) have a more cargo-oriented ferry in addition to the pax-vehicle ferries. However they just chartered two newish vessels for the Newfoundland service. Marine Atlantic is also federally owned, and I wonder if they would go to Germany to build a new boat.

This is a bit mysterious.

Could Mr. Ihab Shaker be back? ;D

Or maybe the guy who wanted to start a hydrofoil passenger service took our advice and went for a 'bigger boat'!

[Low Light Mike]

Here is a Christina Montgomery article on the mystery-order, and her site has some reader comments too.

onthewaterfrontblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/why-the-secrecy-german-yard-that-built-bc-ferries-super-cs-bags-mystery-canadian-order/

[WettCoast]

This is almost certainly for Marine Atlantic to improve the movement of freight & containers across Cabot Strait. It will also have the ability to move a lot of cars, and I would think, passengers too.

I am thinking that this will replace the Atlantic Vision (AV), which is chartered (right?). I suspect that the lease on the AV runs out at about the time this new vessel commences service.

Perhaps Marine Atlantic has finally figured out that owning a vehicle is actually less expensive than leasing.

This also may mean that we heard an awful lot of political rhetoric a few month ago about building new vessels for Canada's armed forces in Canada. As for ferries, however, being built for a federal crown corporation, we will again turn our backs on the Canadian yards.

[Northern Exploration]

There is no mention of passenger space. Normally on a Con-Ro there are a few cabins for the truck/tractor drivers that unload the vehicles and not traditional paying passengers.

In the comments below, one of the posters comments that the order is for a Montreal company. If that is true, then perhaps Montreal based CSL (Canada Steamship Line) has decided to branch out to a new venture beyond grain, iron ore, etc. A route could run between Montreal and Newfoundland and between Halifax and Newfoundland.

Unless the Marine Atlantic leased vessels perform below the expected levels or there is problems that haven't been disclosed, I would fully expect them to purchase them or renew the leases.

[Nick]

Dec 16, 2011 7:43:49 GMT -8 WettCoast said:

This is almost certainly for Marine Atlantic to improve the movement of freight & containers across Cabot Strait. It will also have the ability to move a lot of cars, and I would think, passengers too.

I am thinking that this will replace the Atlantic Vision (AV), which is chartered (right?). I suspect that the lease on the AV runs out at about the time this new vessel commences service.

Perhaps Marine Atlantic has finally figured out that owning a vehicle is actually less expensive than leasing.

This also may mean that we heard an awful lot of political rhetoric a few month ago about building new vessels for Canada's armed forces in Canada. As for ferries, however, being built for a federal crown corporation, we will again turn our backs on the Canadian yards.

This ship is most certainly NOT for Marine Atlantic. MA has adequate capacity for the forseeable future with their leased fleet (with the option to buy when the lease expires). The Vision is quite popular, and it is very likely the lease will be bought out at the end.

The Leif Ericson is a dedicated freight boat, exclusively for drop trailers.

The rumour I've heard out here is that this new ship is for Oceanex, as they are getting rid of a ship soon. www.oceanex.com/public/_home.do

[WettCoast]

My first point is that as this discussion concerns a vessel that is for a Canadian company, and is, I understand, to be used for service within Canada, then this discussion is misplaced in this 'foreign ferries' thread.

What I have read is that this vessel will be able to accommodate 540 cars, as well as containers, and presumably truck trailers, etc. If it is carrying 540 cars then there is some probability that there will be drivers and passengers with those cars -- unless the ship is to deliver new cars to Newfoundland, somewhat like the Japanese auto carriers that call into the port of Vancouver. I assume new cars moving to Newfoundland at present move on bi-level auto carrying trucks as we see on the highways of western Canada.

As for who it is for - well definitely not for any operator on Canada's West Coast. Based on what Nick says above, not likely for MA, but I am inclined to think that they are the only operator that would want a vessel this large.

[Nick]

Dec 16, 2011 13:33:55 GMT -8 WettCoast said:

My first point is that as this discussion concerns a vessel that is for a Canadian company, and is, I understand, to be used for service within Canada, then this discussion is misplaced in this 'foreign ferries' thread.

What I have read is that this vessel will be able to accommodate 540 cars, as well as containers, and presumably truck trailers, etc. If it is carrying 540 cars then there is some probability that there will be drivers and passengers with those cars -- unless the ship is to deliver new cars to Newfoundland, somewhat like the Japanese auto carriers that call into the port of Vancouver. I assume new cars moving to Newfoundland at present move on bi-level auto carrying trucks as we see on the highways of western Canada.

As for who it is for - well definitely not for any operator on Canada's West Coast. Based on what Nick says above, not likely for MA, but I am inclined to think that they are the only operator that would want a vessel this large.

I think the most plausible operator, and the operator I've heard rumour of ordering new tonnage, is Oceanex. They ship containerized cargo to and from NL with scheduled sailings from Halifax and Montreal, WITHOUT passengers. See the link in my post above...

[Neil]

Oceanex makes sense. Their three existing vessels carry a mix of ro-ro freight and containers, with capacities of 644, 1025, and 1125 t.e.u. The new vessel carries 940.

Their oldest boat was built in 1977, and unless you operate ferries on the west coast of North America or in the third world, that's considered old and due for replacement.

[Low Light Mike]

In respect of Wett Coast's "Sheryl Crow rights", I've created this new thread, and moved the last-days' posts to it.

[lmtengs]

And here's Madame Montgomery's conclusion to her Oceanex stories:
onthewaterfrontblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/ferry-mystery-solved/

Right then.

A reader appears to have solved the ferry mystery that I have been poking at, with great frustration and clearly with way too few brains.

I’ll just post Dave’s comment up and let it go at that. I’m guessing it’s accurate. This being Saturday morning and Swansea and Newcastle still being tied 0-0 on the pitch, I’ll turn the debate over foreignbuilds and Canadian expertise over to you for now. (For anyone too tired to click the links to my earlier posts, this was a question about which Canadian company had ordered a new ro-ro ferry from FSG, the same German shipyard that came to the public’s attention when it build three big ferries for BC Ferries. My question was why the purchaser wasn’t being named.)

Dave, you’re a prince. In so many ways.

Dave wrote:

I give you OCEANEX. ShipPax in Sweden (paid membership required for access) announced on their news-ticker on 14 Dec 11 that “OCEANEX ro-ro ordered at Flensburger”.

This is the second ship OCEANEX will have built in Germany. The Oceanex Avalon was built at J.J. Seitas in Hamburg. Then Hynes paid the 25% duty.

Problem now, of course, is that making a big splash about getting merchantmen built offshore while the Harper gesellschaft is making bold announcements about multi-billion dollar outlays to Canadian yards for government vessels is a little embarrassing… for the government. It will start to highlight the gross inadequacies of the Canadian shipbuilding industry and the fact that there will be at least a 10 year ramp up to modernize the yards and develop a qualified workforce.

I have no doubt that there was no Canadian yard with the design engineering capability to develop the type of ship needed for a high capacity short sea line through the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the east coast of NFLD. In short, there isn’t a Canadian yard yet capable of building a 210 meter anything, much less a versadeck ro-ro.

Flensburger otoh, has been building a batch of ro-ros (for the British navy’s strategic reserve no less) and has the design engineering capability to make the adaptations necessary. And then there’s the issue of cheap financing.

If you want and example of how poor Canadian ship design capability really is just watch the navy. The combat support ships (once cancelled) have been reborn. Only now they are looking at something like the German Berlin-class replenishment vessel. The goal is to get the German design altered to Canadian requirements and then have them sell the adapted design to a Canadian yard for building.

Pass the popcorn. This is going to be fun to watch.

[FNS]

FSG has scored another ferry contract during the Summer of 2012.

Caledonian MacBrayne has commissioned FSG to build a new ferry for their fleet.

This will measure 116 meters (380.577 feet) in length and carry 143 cars and 700 passengers.

Delivery date is 2014, the same year as our new MV TOKITAE is scheduled to begin service here on Puget Sound.


Photo from FSG showing the new ferry for Scotland.

CM is known for their ferry services in Scotland. One notable run is to the Isle of Skye from Mallaig, a fishing village at the west end of the Sir Robert McAlpine designed and built West Highland Extension railway Line that goes over the solid concrete Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous from the filmings of the Harry Potter movie series.

News of the building announcement:

www.fsg-ship.de/files/pm_22.06.2012_e.pdf

Website:

www.fsg-ship.de/528-1-RoPax-700.html

Going to be fun to see which way this ship is delivered to Scotland.

[herrbrinkmann]

Construction of the new vessels for OceanEx is going full speed, the following picture is from today, 3 weeks after keellaying...

[herrbrinkmann]

On Friday, May 31st, newbuilding 757 for Oceanex will be launched at 12 o´clock. Watch it live here:
www.fsg-ship.de/200-1-webcams.html

[herrbrinkmann]

[Nick]

Very well done, as per usual, Markus. I'll be looking for the Oceanex Connaigra next time I'm in St. John's.

[herrbrinkmann]

Another launching took place today: Rolldock Star, FSG 758

[Starsteward]

Bravo Herr Brinkman for keeping us up to date on the truly remarkable production schedule of FSG!
While viewing the emotional launching ceremony of 'Oceanex Connaigra', commencing with the traditional blessing, the hull- breaking champagne bottle,the stirring renditions of O Canada, The German National Anthem, followed by the slipway release...allowing the ship's hull to be bathed by the sea for the very first time, I was reminded of mankinds' love of ships,the multitude of uses to which we deploy them and most significantly,the true hope that the new ship will experience good winds and fair seas throughout her career and deliver safely all that sail on her.
Godspeed Oceanex Connaigra!

[Scott (Former Account)]

Video of Oceanex Connaigra. She'll enter service on Friday, October 11th.

[FNS]

FSG has landed another ferry contract.  This one is from Irish Ferries and will be a bit longer than New York City's massive Saint John The Divine Cathedral (by about 38 feet or so).  By the looks of the illustration above, this will have the same bow doors the LOCH SEAFORTH has, built by FSG for CalMac.

www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/irish-ferries-to-buy-new-144m-cruise-ferry-34776805.html

www.irishferries.com/uk-en/news/irish-ferries-to-build-new-144-million-cruise-ferry/

www.fsg-ship.de/files/press_release_order-irish-31052016.pdf

[mybidness459]

I posted this here frankly because of its Flensburg connection, if you have a better place to put it, be my guest.


This week's Mighty Ship on discovery Channel is this beast, It may be on again later on this week, all new episode.

www.faktaomfartyg.se/norrona_2003.htm

www.bellmedia.ca/pr/tv/discovery/mighty-ships/#