Dutch No Limit Ships Delivers Its Biggest Vessel for Hydrographic Research

April 23, 2012

Recently No Limit Ships Shipyards delivered a 19,40 metres long survey vessel. It is the biggest vessel for hydrographic research the yard has built so far. The vessel is destined for a Russian customer who has already used smaller No Limit survey vessels.

In recent years the yard has supplied twelve survey vessels to companies in the hydrographic sector, government organizations and dredging companies. Taking into account the very large working area of this Russian customer and the good experience with the shipyard, commercial manager Dick Westera expects that more orders for survey vessels will be placed by this particular customer in the near future.

Reinforced to cope with ice and conforming to ‘Lloyds safe haven requirements for 150 miles’

With Archangelsk as home port the vessel will be deployed for survey activities in the White Sea, an area where heavy sailing conditions prevail. ‘At the customer’s request the steel hull at the head has been reinforced to cope with the ice and winter conditions’, says Westera. ‘The steel plating at the water-course areas has been made two millimeters thicker than normal and the frame and stringers in the fore are placed at two thirds of the usual distance. The combination of these measures ensures that it is perfectly safe to sail this vessel in this environment.’

The No Limit 1940 meets the severe demands of Lloyds Register Classification Bureau. ‘The vessel meets the requirements for construction and safety with regard to the “safe haven 150 miles” clause’, explains Westera. ‘The 1940 is well suited for prolonged stays at sea. The vessel has three double cabins and two 900 HP propulsion engines. The fuel tank has a capacity of 9.000 liters and the drinking-water supply is 1.400 liters.’

More spacious while maintaining the excellent sailing characteristics

The design of the 1940 is a bigger copy of the No Limit 1640. The proportions of the underwater hull are equal to those of the 1640. ‘This has been done to maintain the exceptional good sailing characteristics. The 1640 has a displacement of 30 tons. The 1940 has a displacement of 45 tons and despite these 15 tons extra she is also a half-glider with excellent sailing characteristics.’ The difference between the two vessels is noticeable in the living areas and the available working space. ‘The 1940 has enough space on the afterdeck for a small crane with which it is possible to lower the dinghy, the mini-sub, a sidescan sonar or the ROV into the water. There is of course also enough space to store this equipment.’

Orderbook and new developments

At this moment No Limit Ships Shipyards are working on the completion of five 22 metres long tenders for the pilot services. This order is obtained in cooperation with the main contractor Barkmeijer Shipyards. No Limit Ship Shipyards are also busy with the development of the successor to the 1940. The design of the No Limit 2440 is already on the drawing board. Within short the yard expects to be able to confirm the first order for this type.

Strong organization

No Limit Ships B.V. was founded in 1996. They have ten employees on the payroll, but during the completion phase of the vessels they use as many subcontractors as necessary, thus adding dozens of skilled workers to the workforce. Over the last five years the turnover has more than doubled. Given the strong growth of the company it has been decided to move to a new and larger location in the near future, thus being able to build even bigger vessels.

Specifications of the No Limit 1940 hydrographic research vessel

Length overall 19,40 metres

Width overall 5,80 metres

Design draught 1,30 metres

Displacement 44,80 tons

Fuel tank 9.000 litres

Fresh water tank 1.400 litres

Waste water tank 680 litres

Maximum speed 20 knots (fully loaded)

Hull steel, reinforced at the head

Superstructure aluminium

Main engines 2 MAN diesel engines type 2842 LE 405 900 HP