Consortium developing next generation short-sea vessel

Consortium developing next generation short-sea vessel Rotterdam-based Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics BV is heading a consortium of European short-sea stakeholders in a 4.2 million euro ($5.5 million) research project to develop vessels that could have the potential to transfer a ship's entire cargo load in a single move.
   The three-year CREATE3S project — which stands for “Creative Concepts REalised by Advanced design and production to improve Total Efficiency of new generation Short Sea Shipping” — started in November with 2.5 million euros ($3.3 million) funding from the European Union.
   The CREATE3S vessel concept consists of two principal modules: a ship hull module and one or more large cargo modules, applicable to container, dry bulk and liquid cargoes.
   When the vessel arrives in port, it would be possible to quickly separate the cargo modules from the ship section, placing them on the quay. The ship module will then be mated with other cargo modules for the return voyage. The cargo units could then be unloaded and made ready for the next vessel call.
   'In this way, time in port for the more expensive component, the ship module with its crew, machinery and bridge/navigation systems, will be minimized,' Samskip said.
   'This approach will combine the ability for a 'standard ship design' to be tuned to very different trades and commodities whilst using advanced construction techniques such as the 'industrial' fabrication of large series of standardized basic modules. This is expected to reduce both operational and manufacturing costs with production lead times trimmed by about 10 percent,' the company said.
   In recent years, the EU has funded a number of projects designed to promote short-sea shipping and take cargo off Europe's congested road network (January American Shipper, pages 72-73).
   'The increasing volumes of cargo being shipped over relatively short distances require major rethinking on the part of shipping companies and ports. Larger ships are required and for them to be efficient, faster cargo handling concepts are needed. Otherwise ships will end up spending more time in port than at sea,' Samskip said.
   The project is being undertaken by a consortium that comprises Samskip, PD Ports, Damen Shipyards Group, Estaleiros Navais de Viana de Castelo, Imtech Marine & Offshore, TTS Ships Equipment, LogIT, Center of Maritime Technologies, Norwegian Maritime Technology Research Institute, Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, Delft University of Technology, University of Newcastle Unew, Bureau Veritas, and Centrum Techniki Okretowej.