Umiak I

Umiak I is a purpose-built ice-strengthened bulk carrier constructed for the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company,[3] a wholly owned subsidiary of Vale, to transport ore from the Voisey's Bay Mine.

This article is about the ice-strengthened bulk carrier. For the traditional northern skin-covered boat, see Umiak.
Umiak I in Montreal harbor in 2009. Note the large ice knife protecting the rudder from ice when the ship is moving astern.
History
Name: Umiak I
Owner: Fednav Group [1]
Port of registry: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador,  Canada
Ordered: 27 February 2004[2]
Builder: Universal Shipbuilding Corporation Maizuru Shipyard, Japan[2]
Yard number: 10003[2]
Laid down: 2 August 2005[2]
Launched: 14 November 2005[2]
Completed: 13 April 2006[2]
In service: 2006–
Identification: IMO number: 9334715
Call sign: XJAR[2]
Status: In service
General characteristics [2]
Type: Bulk carrier
Tonnage: 22,462 GT
8,853 NT
31,992 DWT
Length: 188.8 m (619 ft)
Beam: 26.6 m (87 ft)
Draught: 11.7 m (38 ft)
Depth: 15.7 m (52 ft)
Ice class: DNV ICE-15
Installed power: MAN B&W-Hitachi 7S70ME-C (21,770 kW[3])
Propulsion: Single shaft; controllable-pitch propeller with nozzle
Speed: 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1.5-metre (5 ft) ice[3]
Capacity: Five holds, 40,490 m3 (grain)
Notes: Three cranes (1 × 50 tons; 2 × 30 tons)

According to an article in the April 2006 issue of The Gossan an internal publication of the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company, the Umiak had completed her sea trials in Japan, and her delivery was expected in May 2006. “Umiak is the Inuktitut name for a supply boat or sometimes called a woman’s boat, and is a fitting name for a vessel carrying concentrate from Voisey’s Bay”.[4]

Umiak I makes twelve trips per year, transporting a total of 360,000 tonnes of nickel concentrate, worth $1.5 billion CAD.[3]

Fednav also operates a similar ice-strengthened bulk carrier, Arctic, which shares the load with Umiak I. On 30 October 2012, Fednav announced it had ordered a third icebreaking cargo vessel from Universal Shipbuilding Corporation's Tsu shipyard in Japan. The Polar Class 4 vessel, Nunavik, entered service in January 2014.

Design

Umiak I is 188.8 metres (619 ft) long and has a beam of 26.6 metres (87 ft). Fully laden, she draws 11.7 metres (38 ft) of water and has a deadweight tonnage of 31,992 tons.[2] Designed for operations in Arctic ice-infested waters and assigned ice class ICE-15 by Det Norske Veritas, she has a sloping icebreaker bow and a hull strengthened for independent operations in ice up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) thick without icebreaker escort.[3]

A bulk carrier designed to carry nickel concentrate, Umiak I has five holds with a combined grain capacity of 40,490 cubic metres. She is geared with three cranes, one 50-ton crane serving holds 1 and 2, and two 30-ton cranes serving holds 3, 4 and 5.[1] In addition to bulk cargo, she can also carry re-supply cargoes for the production operations, including fuel oil.[3]

Umiak I is powered by a seven-cylinder MAN B&W-Hitachi 7S70ME-C low-speed two-stroke diesel engine producing 21,770 kW (29,190 hp). The main engine is coupled directly to a ducted controllable-pitch propeller. The variable-pitch propeller allows backing and ramming in heavy ice conditions without reversing the engine, and the nozzle protects it from ice impacts and provides additional thrust. In open water, Umiak I can achieve a speed of 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) with only 35% engine load. In 1.5-metre (5 ft) ice, she can maintain a speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) with the aid of a water deluge system in the bow.[3] For onboard electricity generator, she is fitted with three six-cylinder STX-built MAN 6L23/30H generating sets.[2]

Media

Umiak I was featured in an hour-long documentary in season 5 of Mighty Ships.[5][6]

References
  1. Umiak I. Fednav. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  2. "Umiak I (25884)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  3. The world's strongest: Umiak I. Fednav. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  4. Umiak I, The Gossan: A Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Publication, issue 10, April 2006
  5. Archived 2013-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Discovery Channel Canada. Retrieved 2013-24-04.
  6. .Smithsonian Channel Retrieved 2013-24-04.
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