Feedback from the five Diamond 53 vessels delivered from Chinese yards and now in service for Norway’s Spar Shipping and Turkey’s Densan Shipping indicate that power requirements for service speeds are lower than expected. At the same time, masters report excellent manoeuvrability, which has led to savings on tug costs, cargo friendliness that helps to minimise loading and discharging time, and major time savings of cargo hold cleaning.

The development of the Diamond 34 design is focused on:

 

• safety
• economical operation / maintenance • environmental friendliness
• loading flexibility and robustness • future regulations for bulk carriers

The double hull concept means easy discharging and cargo hold cleaning, as well as a strong and robust hull structure and good environmental protection, with all bunker tanks coffered from the ships sides. The bulkhead framing and side frames are all outside the holds, ensuring clean surfaces in the holds. Cargo friendliness excellent with large hatch openings and no lower hopper side tanks in holds 2, 3 and 4. Although there is a floodable ballast hold, normal ballast condition does not require the hold to be flooded, and all ballast can be sequentially exchanged at sea. The vessel is fitted with four cranes up to 36 tonne capacity each.

The double side skin allows safe access for close-up survey of the complete hull structure, even when the vessel is loaded. Furthermore, green water protection - by the forecastle and the protected underdeck passage to the fore decks - improves the safe operation of the vessel. The underdeck passage way also carries all electrical and pipe services thus giving a clean easy to maintain deck space. Cargo hold lighting units are also easily accessible from this area.