WSA Orders One Purpose-Designed No Limit 1640 Survey Ship, Germany

No Limit Ships Shipyards has been commissioned by the German Wasser- und Schiffahrtsamt to build a purpose-designed No Limit 1640 survey ship for the WSA department Cuxhaven. The vessel has a limited draught, which allows it to inspect shallow waters and groynes in the River Elbe, while its robustness also makes it suitable for difficult sailing conditions in the outer Elbe area.

“The Elbe has a reputation for strong currents, fast -rising and sometimes extreme water levels, dangerous shallows and in the estuary turbulent tides“, says marketing manager Dick Westera. “In the outer Elbe area, the tides are also turbulent and this environment is therefore notorious for the high and steep waves that are formed in the so-called current against wind situation. With prevailing north-westerly winds, this situation occurs at outgoing tide two times six hours a day. The crew of the survey ship must be able to work safely and effectively in any situation. And that is why in cooperation with the client we have developed a customised No Limit vessel.”

Fully seaworthy under all circumstances

The hull construction and the wheel house have been adapted to suit the sailing area. “The shape of the underwater hull is flatter and thus more shallow with a greater lifting capacity . The maximum draught is only one metre and the robustness of the hull construction makes it suitable for use over a stony seabed. Since the centre of gravity is low, the stability is excellent and the tube, which is so characteristic of the No Limit vessels, provides extra upward power in the event of rolling or pitching.”

Special features for survey work

The vessel will be provided with hydrographic survey equipment. “It will be installed in cooperation with the Norwegian company Kongsberg“, says Westera. “For this equipment to perform properly, it is important that the vibrations and sounds from the ship do not themselves cause any disturbance of the complex echo sounders. The extremely sensitive sensors will be protected in such a way that the throughflow of water is not disturbed, because this could affect the measuring data.”

Specifications No Limit 1640 survey ship

Overall length 16.4 m

Overall width 5.4 m

Draught 1m

Displacement approx. 30 tonnes

Fuel 3,000 litres

Maximum speed 11.5 knots

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Press Release, October 10, 2012