On October 10, NIBULON loaded its legendary NIBULON MAX 140-m self-propelled floating vessel with the cargo hold capacity of 13,400 cubic meters at the transshipment terminal for grain and oilseeds shipments (Mykolaiv), NIBULON says in a press release.
Although a festive atmosphere from the official putting into operation of NIBULON MAX, held at the international TRANS EXPO ODESA-MYKOLAIV 2019 Forum on September 20, is still in the air, the high-capacity vessel has already started to conduct its first task.
NIBULON loaded its specialized floating vessel with 8.5 thousand tons of new corn yield at its transshipment terminal for grain and oilseeds shipments in Mykolaiv.
According to the company’s specialists, all the operations are carried out in a test mode at this stage. Thus, having been loaded with agricultural commodities, NIBULON MAX will make a trip to the outer roads of Mykolaiv Sea Port, where it will transship corn from its own holds to the Panamax RB JORDANA vessel with the deadweight of 81,301 tons. At the same time, the 140-m floating vessel will complete loading of foreign vessels with additional corn from NIBULON’s non-self-propelled vessels. The loading operations in the outer roads of Mykolaiv Sea Port are about to start on October 11. Upon loading completion, RB JORDANA vessel will be bound for Egypt.
NIBULON MAX has two cargo holds with the capacity of 13,400 cubic meters. Cargo holds, equipped with hatch covers, are intended for transporting bulk and general cargoes. The presence of own holds on the vessel provides continuous operation of cranes during mooring operations with non-self-propelled vessels, which shortens the load time of vessels. For maintenance of cargo holds, as well as carrying out loading and unloading operations, in the conditions of the port and in the open roads in the sea, the vessel is equipped with the two CBG360 bow cranes (Liebherr-MCCTEC Rostock GmbH) with the maximum lifting capacity of 45 tons and the maximum outreach of 36 m. They are shifted by 3,600 mm to the left from central line. This will enable the company to perform loading and unloading of Panamax vessels. The cranes’ productivity is 18,000 tons per day.
Starting its operation, NIBULON MAX floating vessel has considerably increased NIBULON’s fleet capacity. Now, in the outer roads of Mykolaiv Sea Port, where three NIBULON’s floating vessels (St. Mykolai self-propelled floating crane as well as Nibulonivets and Nibulonivets-2 non-self-propelled floating cranes) have operated prior to that time, the company will be able to increase transshipment volumes considerably and to satisfy its needs completely. In 2018/19 MY, the company’s floating cranes shipped for exports 2.7 million tons of grain crops. Due to the 140-m floating vessel’s operation, the annual indices will be increased up to 5-6 million tons. This vessel will enable the company to use river cargo fleet in a flexible manner, acting as storage element when foreign going vessels are absent.