MV Tønsberg

Ro/ro ship

Tønsberg in the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge

History
Name| Tønsberg
Namesake| Tønsberg
Owner| Wilh. Wilhelmsen
Port of registry| Valletta, Malta[1]
Builder| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki, Japan[2]
Launched| 2 October 2010
Identification|

* IMO number: 9515383[1]
* MMSI number: 249904000[1]
* Call sign: 9HA2066[1]

General characteristics
Class and type| Mark V[2]
Type| roll-on/roll-off
Tonnage|

* 75,251 GT[1]
* 41,820 DWT[1]

Length| 265 metres (869 ft)[2]
Beam| 32.27 metres (105.9 ft)[1]
Decks| Six fixed decks; three hoistable decks[2]
Installed power| MAN B&W 7L70ME engine[4] providing 20,100 kilowatts (27,000 hp)
Propulsion| 7.3m diameter 6-bladed propeller; two 2,500-kW Kawasaki thrusters (one stern, one bow)
Speed| 20.25 knots (37.50 km/h; 23.30 mph)[3]
Capacity|

* 138,000 cubic metres (4,900,000 cu ft)[2]
* 5,990 TEU[3]

MV Tønsberg is a roll-on/roll-off ship owned by Wilh. Wilhelmsen. As of 2012[update] it is the largest RORO ship in the world.[5]

## Specification[edit]

* Dimensions: MV Tønsberg is 265 m (869 ft) length overall and 32.26 m (105.8 ft) wide, and has 11 m (36 ft) draught and 46 m (151 ft) of air draught. Gross tonnage is 76,500 gt. Capacity is 5% – 7% higher than Mark IV roro ships.
* Decks: Six fixed decks and three hoistable ones (4B, 6 and 8, lifted by electric winches). The main deck can take loads 7.1 m high – more than other vessels – allowing very large loads. The total deck space is 50,335 m2 and cargo volume is 138,000 m³. Internal ramps are 8 metres wide; The weather deck (which can be used for outsize or unusual loads, such as wind turbine blades) also has a 4m wide ramp from below, to reduce the need for cranes.[6]
* Stern ramp: The stern ramp is 12 m (39 ft) wide and can take loads of 505 tonnes.
* Design: Hull form has been improved, so compared to previous ships it will use 15 – 20% less fuel per unit of cargo.[2] Stability has been improved, to reduce the need for ballast water. There is a double bottom and Deck 5 is also watertight.
* Propulsion: 7-cylinder MAN B&W engine, which has been derated from 22,890 kW[4] to 20,100 kW MCR at 108rpm; (although normal output in service is 18,090 kW), driving a 7.3 m (24 ft) diameter 6-bladed propeller; plus two 2,500 kW Kawasaki thrusters (one each at the bow and the stern). Service speed is 20.25 knots.[7]

## History[edit]

MV Tønsberg is the fourth Wilhelmsen ship to carry this name; it's named after the Norwegian coastal town where Wilhelmsen was founded in 1861.[8] It was built to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wilh. Wilhelmsen line. It is the first in a series of four "Mark V" ships, built in 2010-2011 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki, in Japan.[7] The second ship of the class, Parsifal, was delivered in September 2011.[9]

In June 2012, Tønsberg was awarded "Ship of the Year 2011" by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, recognising its efficiency and environmental compatibility.[10]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "TONSBERG". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Wilh. Wilhelmsen launches next generation cargo vessel". Wilhelmsen press release. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
3. ^ a b "Tønsberg". wilhelmsenasa.com. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
4. ^ a b "MAN B&W L70ME-C8-TII Project Guide" (PDF). MAN. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
5. ^ "Wilhelmsen launches largest ro-ro ship". Logistics Manager. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
6. ^ "Wilh. Wilhelmsen launches next generation ro-ro ship". Heavy Lift & project Forwarding International. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
7. ^ a b "Wilhelmsen new ro-ro is biggest ever". The Motorship. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
8. ^ "Utsatt dåp for verdens største RoRo skip". skips-revyen. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
9. ^ "Parsifal hits new notes for heavy lift". Heavy Lift & project Forwarding International. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
10. ^ "TØNSBERG, MHI's Massive RO/RO Vessel, Awarded "Ship of the Year 2011": High Transport Efficiency and Environmental Compatibility Recognized". Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

## External links[edit]

* Photos of MV Tønsberg