Ice-Class Conversion Arctica 1 & 2

Principal particulars:

Length:

113.18 m

Between perpendiculars:

109.58 m

Breadth moulded:

18.60 m

Depth moulded:

11.80 m

Draught design:

6.85 m

Deadweight:

8,500 t

Gross tonnage

7,300 t

Speed:

10.5 kn

Hold capacity:

521,148 cu.ft

June 12, 2015

Design philosophy of the ECO 8,500 DWT High Cube

Converting an existing multi-purpose cargo hull for high-ice operations requires a fundamental reassessment of global structural loads, reserve stability, and hydrodynamic behavior. Adding heavy structural mass to the bow alters the vessel’s longitudinal center of gravity and buoyancy distribution.

Conoship’s approach centered on total structural integration: rather than simply patching on heavy ice belt plating, we re-engineered the forward hull geometry entirely. By combining hydrodynamic optimization with high-strength icebreaking profiles, the design ensures the hull efficiently shears and disperses ice while protecting global strength characteristics under harsh dynamic impacts.

Engineering Scope: What Conoship Executed

Icebreaking Bow Redesign & Detail Engineering: Complete architectural redesign of the forward ship section, replacing the original bulbous profile with a specialized icebreaker bow engineered for continuous pack-ice navigation.
Global & Local Hull Ice-Strengthening: Structural redesign of internal framing, web frames, and shell plating to meet stringent ice-class structural rules.
Heavy Deck Equipment Reinforcement: Engineering the internal structural foundations and local deck stiffening to support heavy-duty deck crane installations for remote operations.
Thermal Protection & Tank Heating Engineering: Integration of structural tank heating layouts and winterized piping systems to protect fuel oil and ballast water from freezing in sub-zero climates.
Stability Analysis & Inclining Test Validation (Hellingproef): Complete recalculation of vessel hydrostatic properties, deadweight tables, and stability criteria, concluded by physical inclining test management following yard conversion.

Shipyard: Shipyard Bijlsma / Royal Niestern Sander

Delivery date: 2015-06-12

Launch location: Groningen, Netherlands

Ship owner: Royal Wagenborg

Vessel country: Netherlands

Vessel type: Multi-Purpose General Cargo

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