Blue Funnel M-Class (1977)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Funnel M-Class p1
Ship data
Ship type Multipurpose ship
Shipyard Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , Nagasaki
Scott's Shipbuilding , Greenock
Construction period 1977 to 1980
Units built 4 + 3
Cruising areas Worldwide trip
Ship dimensions and crew
length
164.57 m ( Lüa )
width 26.00 m
Side height 14.20 m
Draft Max. 10.67 m
measurement 16,500 GRT, 8800 NRT
 
crew 36
Machine system
machine 1 × two-stroke diesel engine (Sulzer RND 76M)
Machine
performanceTemplate: Infobox ship / maintenance / service format 		16,800 hp (12,356 kW)
Top
speed 		18.0 kn (33 km / h)
propeller 1 × fixed propeller
Transport capacities
Load capacity 21,300 dw
Others
Classifications Lloyd's Register

The M-Class (English: "M" class or "M" Boats) of the British Alfred Holt shipping group was built in seven units from 1977. The M-Class ships were built at two different shipyards and were developed as multi-purpose container ships for the West Africa service. The term M-Class was derived from the ship names beginning with the letter "M".

Construction and use of the ships

The first four ships were built in 1977 at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki. The construction contract for this quartet resulted from the cancellation of two large tankers by the British Petroleum group . The owner of the four ships was the BP subsidiary Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate), which gave them to the Alfred Holt subsidiary Ocean Fleets on a long-term charter.

Another three ships of the type were built in 1980 by Scott's Shipbuilding in Greenock. Despite the traditional Blue Funnel names, this trio became the property of the Alfred Holt subsidiary Elder Dempster , which incorporated the ships into its liner service.

technical description

The M-class units were multi-purpose ships with superstructures arranged aft. The ships with a carrying capacity of over 21,000 tons had five holds with tween decks and were designed for the transport of 773 and 795 containers (TEU), some of which could be driven as refrigerated containers. The cargo was handled with conventional loading gear . The M-Class ships from Mitsubishi were largely identical to those from Scott's shipyard, but had, among other things, a different division of cargo holds, cargo gear and superstructures.

The propulsion was provided by a two-stroke Sulzer RND 76M diesel engine acting on a single screw.

The ships

Blue Funnel M-Class
Ship name Shipyard / construction number IMO number Commissioning Client
shipping company		 Later names and whereabouts
Menelaus Mitsubishi / - 1977 Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate)
Ocean Fleets		 -
Memnon Mitsubishi / - 1977 Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate)
Ocean Fleets		 -
Melampus Mitsubishi / - 1977 Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate)
Ocean Fleets		 -
Menestheus Mitsubishi / 1809 7601566 November 30, 1977 Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate)
Ocean Fleets		 1980 Barber Menestheus , 1984 Menestheus , 1984 Lloyd Paranna , 1985 Menestheus , 1986 Apapa Palm , 1988 CMB Esprit , 1992 Woermann Expert , 2000 Expert , 2001 Delmas Sycamore , 2006 Expert , 2007 ClipperR Itajai II , 2007 King Spirit , from October 2010 in Alang canceled
Maroon Scott's / - 1980 - -
mentor Scott's / - 1980 - -
Myrmidon Scott's / - 1980 - -

literature

  • Haws, Duncan: Blue Funnel Line . 1st edition. TCL Publications, Torquay 1984, ISBN 0-946378-01-0 .

Web links