Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES) recently completed the 110,000DWT bulk carrier ‘Nord Hercules’ (yard number 1,817) which had been under construction at its Chiba Works, and delivered her to her owner, Clio Marine of Liberia on January 21, 2011.

The vessel is the first ship of the new MES “over-Panamax” (post-Panamax) bulk carrier series. This ship has specifically been designed for greater efficiency in the maritime transport of iron ore, coal and grain in view of the future expansion of the Panama Canal.

Furthermore, new regulations have influenced the design to deliver better environmental performance, bigger flexibility in operation and greater safety throughout the ship’s construction. The new ship has a beam greater than the current Panamax limit of 32.3 metres in anticipation of the completion of the widening of the canal.

At 43 metres across the beam, she has been designed to have broader versatility, satisfying the harbour regulations of major coal unloading ports while maximising her deadweight. According to MES, she has enough structural strength and enough cargo hold capacity to accommodate cargoes of iron ore, coal or grain, which have calculated for optimum efficiency in shipping schedules. According to MES, the new ship achieves energy savings by adopting the most advanced forms of bow and stern, a high efficiency propeller and other energy-saving devices.

‘Nord Hercules’ was designed in accordance with the Common Structural Rules for bulk carriers (CSR-B) of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), achieving both structural safety and operational freedom.
Enhanced safety has been achieved by satisfying new regulations for forecastle arrangement and bow part reserve buoyancy. Further, the arrangement of fixed inspection devices and portable ladders in the cargo holds and ballast tanks, based on SOLAS regulations, further enhances ship safety.
Her mooring equipment has been installed to match the facilities of iron ore loading ports in Brazil.

The ship meets the fuel oil tank protection regulations of the MARPOL convention and she has a sewage tank to preserve contamination of the marine environment. The ship has a compact and high-powered Mitsui-MAN B&W 6S60MC-C diesel engine, which satisfies IMO environmental standards for exhaust gas emissions.