On January 14th 2005, the naming ceremony of the first container vessel of a new series of flexible container vessels took place in Rotterdam. Mrs. I.H.J. Pronk, wife of the managing director of Geest North Sea Line, performed the naming of this new vessel, MV ''Geeststroom''. The ship is ordered by the German shipowner Jörg Köpping from Schülp/Rendsburg and is completely built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The next day, the Geeststroom started her first voyage for the long-term charterer Geest North Sea Line in Rotterdam.
The design of the Damen Container Feeder 800 was made in close cooperation between builder, owner, long-term charterer Geest North Sea Line and chartering agent Stüwe & Co from Hamburg. This has resulted in an innovatory short-sea container vessel especially designed for 45 feet containers. The vessel has the Finnish Swedish 1A Ice Class notation and the Germanischer Lloyds In Water Survey notation for extended survey periods. A particular feature of the design is a hull form with fine underwater lines, which has resulted in low fuel consumption at a high service speed of 18 knots at summer draft. The speed is reached by using a MaK 9M43 engine of 8400 kW at 500 rpm, suitable for running on heavy fuel oil. The engine is linked through a Flender gearbox to a Wärtsilä Propulsion CPP propeller running at 140 rpm. A power take off drives a 1600 kW Stamford alternator with additional electrical supply obtained from two Scania/Stamford 440 kW diesel driven alternator sets. The vessel has excellent manoeuvrability provided by a high lift Bot balance rudder in combination with a Tenfjord rotary vane steering gear, a bow thruster of 700 kW and a stern thruster of 500 kW.
The use of movable cellguides provides a large flexibility in the intake of different container sizes. All 3 cargo holds can carry 4x 20 feet, 3x 30 feet, 2x 40 feet and 2x 45 feet containers. Breadth and height of the holds are suitable for wide bodies and high cube containers. On deck the same can be realized including the carriage of 48 and 49 feet containers. For controlling the heel of the vessel during loading and unloading a Frank Mohn anti heeling pump of 450 m3/h is provided.
All holds are suitable for the carriage of dangerous cargoes according SOLAS Reg.19. In addition hold 1 is provided with a sprinkler installation for the carriage of explosive cargoes.
The maximum intake of the vessel is 812 20 feet container or 329 45 feet containers.
The total container intake of homogeneously loaded 20 feet units at 14 ton each is 517. Reefer plugs are arranged in holds 2 and 3 for the carriage of 60 reefer containers of 40 feet. The ventilation capacity is considerable, being 4000 m3/h per reefer container. On deck reefer plugs are arranged for 120 containers.
The hatchcovers are designed by MacGregor and are of the closed single folding type, suitable for stack loads of 60 ton for 20 feet, 70 ton for 30 feet, 90 ton for 40 feet and 95 ton for 45 feet. The corresponding loads in the holds are 80 ton for 20 feet, 100 ton for 30 feet, 105 ton for 40 feet and 105 ton for 45 feet.
To avoid possible environmental pollution, no fuel tanks are arranged in the double skin or bottom, all bunkers being carried in transverse spaces between the holds. Advantages are that the bunkers can be maintained at higher temperatures in cold areas and the chance of oil spillage after collision is minimized.
The mooring winches are of the self tensioning type and forward winches are protected by an aerodynamic sprayhood.
All living spaces for a total of 14 crew are housed in the accommodation on the poopdeck. The navigation bridge is provided with a complete range of communication and navigation equipment including VDR, AIS and ECDIS.
Mid March 2005 the sister vessel, 'Geestdijk', will be delivered to the same Owner.
