48 THE NAVAL ARCHITECT MAY 2003

APPROACHING completion at thePortuguese builder Estaleiros Navais de

Viana do Castelo (ENVC) is a highlyinteresting hybrid reefer ship, Carmel Ecofresh.This flexible vessel is for the transport of freshgoods - or cars as an alternative - in a large

refrigerated cargo hold amidships andcontainers fore and aft in conventional holds.The versatile design, understood to have beencarried out by the German consultant Schiffkoworking to a concept originally developed byInternational Maritime Advisers, ofCopenhagen, was discussed in detail in TheNaval Architect November 2001, page 6, andNovember 2002, page 33. Two 15,000dwtvessels have been ordered for the Germancompany Horizont Schiffahrtsgesellshaft, to beoperated by Agrexco, of Israel, and the first isexpected to be delivered in September this year.

A combination of cargo-carrying possibilitiesof this ship make it a very significant delivery,not to mention the fact that her seven-cylinderSulzer propulsion engine gives freedom inoperation and timing of exhaust valve actuationand fuel injection, being one of the first of thenew RT-flex models without a camshaft.

This 185.85m reefer, classed by ABS andwhose hull form was tested at the HamburgShip Model Basin, has a length bp of 174.53m,a breadth of 25.14m, a depth of 16.40m, and a

design draught of 8.50m. She can reach speedsof 21knots at 90% MCR and 20% sea margin.Carmel Ecofresh contains approximately465,000ft3 (13,168m3) of reefer cargo space in16 compartments under the superstructure(unusually positioned slightly forward ofamidships), while 638TEU containers can becarried on deck using lashing bridges, and244TEU in the five cellular holds (threeforward and two aft).

This is an rare design concept, with a doubleskin for water ballast tanks surrounding thecontainer holds, and in way of the reefer hold,where the side spaces accommodate the cargocooling ducts. Pallet elevators and a shell doorfor side loading are fitted at the starboard sideof the refrigerated space.

The cargo reefer system is designed forworking in conditions varying from seawatertemperatures between 0°C and 32°C, ambienttemperatures of -20°C to +35°C and a ambientair relative humidity of 70%. Holdtemperatures can be maintained between -30°Cand +13°C. The refrigerating unit consists ofan indirect cooling system, primary refrigerantof R407C, and secondary refrigerant (brine) ofCaCl2. Electrical power for the refrigeratingsystem and ship's services is provided by fouralternators - 2 x 1210kVA and 2 x 1820kVA,driven by Caterpillar MaK 6M20 and 9M20engines respectively

The ship's main Sulzer engine, supplied byWärtsilä, is a 7RT-flex60C model, which hasan output of 16,520kW at 114rev/min. Steadyrunning of this engine can be achieved atexceptionally low engine speeds - 10%-12%of nominal rotational speed is possiblethrough the use of electronic controls.Another important feature of this unit issmoke-free operation throughout the loadrange, as discussed in our special article onthe engines for the ships in November 2002.Carmel Ecofresh is fitted with a FP nickel-aluminium-bronze propeller, with a diameterof 6300mm; behind this is a Becker flappedrudder.

Carmel Ecofresh has a double shell in thecontainer cargo areas. She also hasaccommodation for a crew of 30 in 25 cabins.

First Agrexco hybrid reefer ship nearingcompletion at ENVC

A profile of the new hybrid reefer ship, Carmel Ecofresh and her sister, being built in Portugal by Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) for operationby Agrexco, of Israel.

TECHNICAL PARTICULARSCARMEL ECOFRESH

Length, oa...................................185.85mLength, bp.................................. 174.53mBreadth, moulded.........................25.14mDepth, moulded

to main deck.......................... 16.40mto upper deck........................ 19.55m

Width of double skinside.......................................... 2.28mbottom...................................... 1.50m

Draughtscantling...................................9.50mdesign...................................... 8.50m

Gross.......................................... 17,929gtDisplacement..................... 23,752tonnesLightweight............................ 8700tonnesDeadweight, design.................15,052dwtRefrigerated cargo capacity.....465,000ft3

or 13,168m3 (4221 pallets)Bunkers

heavy oil................................ 1560m3

diesel oil.................................. 137m3

Water ballast................................ 6033m3

Heel control equipment........ air-activatedtanks

Main engine................Sulzer 7RT-flex60COutput................16,520kW at 114rev/minService speed.........................21.00knots Containers

Lengths........................ 20ft; 40ft; 45ftHeights...............................8.5ft; 9.6ftTotal TEU capacity.................896TEU

(20ft,40ft,45ft)On deck..............approx 630TEUIn holds...............approx 244TEU

Reefer plugs.................................100 (+160 option)

TiersOn deck..................................... 4 in holds...................................... 5

Classification..................................... ABS

Cross-section through the refrigerated cargocompartments.

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THE NAVAL ARCHITECT MAY 2003 49

General arrangement plans of the interesting and flexible 15,000dwt CarmelEcofresh, designed for the transport of fresh produce - or cars as a backhaulcargo - in a large refrigerated cargo space, with containers in fore-and-aftconventional cellular holds.

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