On Friday, 23 May at 11:00 hrs, the vessel FWN Adriatic (flying the Dutch flag) was successfully launched at the Ferus Smit shipyard in Leer. This vessel is the fourth in a series of six advanced cargo ships to be delivered to Forestwave Navigation. The series builds upon the proven success of the earlier ‘Ecobox’ and ‘Ecobox DP’ designs delivered by the yard in recent years.
The new Ecobox XL design has been specifically developed to accommodate extra-long cargoes, such as wind turbine blades, while maintaining the vessel’s versatility as a general cargo ship. The design modifications also enhance environmental performance, achieving a further reduction in the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), setting a new class benchmark.
To support these advancements, the original Ecobox hull was lengthened by over 21 meters, creating a box-shaped cargo hold of more than 100 meters on the tank top and 112 meters above the movable tweendeck. With a beam of 18 meters, the vessel offers increased deadweight capacity and improved loading flexibility, while maintaining low hydrodynamic resistance in both calm and rough sea conditions.
Fuel efficiency has been further optimized by incorporating a novel ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) waste heat recovery system into the propulsion setup. This system works in tandem with a 3,300 kW main engine, which drives a nozzled controllable pitch propeller operating in fully automatic combinator mode. The fuel system is also compatible with biofuel blends.
Key specifications of the Ecobox XL design include:
• Approx. 12,500 DWT loading capacity
• Extensive cargo space with movable tween deck (100m on tank top, 112m on tweendecks)
• Two 85-ton cargo cranes
• Open top notation
• Ice class 1A
• Deckhouse positioned forward for enhanced deck cargo protection and stern loading of oversized cargo
• Ferus Smit’s signature bulbless ‘Canoe’ bow, optimizing fuel efficiency and seakeeping in harsh weather
• Compliance with Tier III and Green Passport standards
• ORC waste heat recovery system for ultra-low fuel consumption and EEDI
With the launch of FWN Adriatic, Ferus Smit and Forestwave Navigation continue to set new standards in sustainable cargo shipping.
Source: Ferus Smit