The UK based shipowner Zodiac recently signed a contract for 2+4 Ro-Ro car carriers at Xiamen shipyard in China to DNV class. Together with the Leif Hoegh newbuildings at Daewoo shipyard, the Wilhelmsen order at Mitsubishi and the long car carrier series for Ray Car Carriers Ltd. at Gdynia shipyard, these contracts confirm DNV's strong position in this ship segment.
As the average age for 25% of the car carrier fleet is turning 25 year at the end of 2007, there is an expectation for placement of many new contracts in the near future. This is expected, despite the fact that order books include 60 deliveries for pure truck and car carriers from now and until 2006.
Fatigue is one of the primary causes for business interruption for car carriers. A key issue in this respect is to address fatigue in critical details at the design stage. Detailed knowledge of the fatigue status of all relevant details can then be transferred to the operational phase in order to optimise the hull inspection program and reduce the likelihood of hull damage. Advanced direct wave load analyses are in some cases recommended to accurately assess the combined load effect and the subsequent fatigue effect in the structure. For this purpose, DNV has available the next generation wave load software WASIM, that predicts the complete three-dimensional interaction between the ship and the waves at any forward speed and in any sea conditions. Combined with robust calculation procedures and balanced acceptance criteria, the direct wave load and strength analysis contribute to a well-functioning structural arrangement and minimum of business interruption without compromising on safety.
For more information contact:
Jan.Kvaalsvold@dnv.com