Germany: FSG Launches New Vessel for RollDock BV

Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) today launched ROLLDOCK STORM, the sister ship of ROLLDOCK STAR. The newbuilding rolled down the slipway into the Flensburg Fiord right on time and under the watchful eyes of her builders and of representatives from Dutch owners RollDock BV.

While ROLLDOCK STORM is now being completed at the yard’s outfitting quay and prepared for her hand-over in May, predecessor ROLLDOCK STAR has already completed her first contracts for her owners. She carried a floating pavilion from Amsterdam to Gibraltar and a river cruise ship from Fos to Bordeaux. Plans now are for her to transport a floating object from the Baltic to the Far East.

These initial projects have served to illustrate why RollDock BV ordered the two 151.50 metre long multi-functional specialised carriers in the first place: namely to carry demanding, heavy project loads which lie outside the scope of traditional cargo transport.

FSG head Peter Sierk said: “RollDock BV has made a name for itself throughout the world as a special transport company and it chose us to build its modern, state-of-the-art newbuildings. It was an enormous challenge for all of us at FSG and one which we met with vigour and motivation. We can see the result of that in ROLLDOCK STAR, a ship which fulfills the tremendously high demands set by our customer and which impresses that customer with her high quality and high-value workmanship.”

“We know, straight from the horse’s mouth,” Sierk said, “that by adding the two Flensburg newbuildings to its fleet, RollDock BV now sees itself in the best possible position to cope with international competition. In RollDock BV we have found an absolutely reliable partner – one we can support with our two special ships and help to meet the demands of its customers world wide”, he said. “It proves, yet again, that we Flensburg shipbuilders are only ever successful when our products help our customers along – and they certainly do that”, the FSG head declared.

ROLLDOCK STAR and ROLLDOCK STORM stand out mainly because of their maximal flexibility and offer a range of different loading possibilities. Two heavy-duty cranes move cargo weighing up to 700 tons. In addition both ships boast height-adjustable stern ramps and hatch covers making them adaptable to port piers of differing heights.

Because of this, individual loads weighing up to 3,000 tons can be loaded or unloaded in classical RoRo mode.

Furthermore, the ships are submersible to about 6 metres and thus can handle cargo being floated in or floated out. Deadweight is 8,000 tons.

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FSG, January 31, 2014