On Wednesday the 29th of August, M.V. Vlieborg was successfully launched at the Westerbroek yard of Ferus Smit. The Vlieborg, built as Nb. 407, is the second unit in a series of 3 multi purpose cargo ships ordered by Wagenborg shipping in Delfzijl.

These ships are the biggest ever launched along the ‘Winschoterdiep’, they have following dimensions: Loa 142.65 mtr, B 15.87 mtr, Tmax 7.729 mtr, Deadweight abt 12.000 tons, Hold volume 503.500 cft.

Nb. 407 and 408 are equipped with a main engine delivering 3000 kW to a ducted propeller. The first ship in this series, Nb. 406 M.V. ‘Vikingbank’ was delivered with a 4000 kW engine with an open propeller.

The characteristic and innovative ‘bulbless’ bow shape brings this design a number of ‘green’ advantages. Her longer and sharper waterlines create less resistance, irrespective of her loading draft. At the same time this shape creates more deadweight and cargo volume within her absolute dimensions. Above the waterline the more slender form will cut gradually through waves, improving performance in rough conditions, while the negative stemprofile was proved to be also advantageous when breaking through ice sheets.

Picture Copyright Henk Zuur.

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