Umiak I is a purpose-built ice-strengthened bulk carrier constructed for the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company,[4] a wholly owned subsidiary of Vale, to transport ore from the Voisey's Bay Mine.
 Umiak I in Quebec on 4 August 2018
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Umiak I |
| Owner | Fednav Group[2] |
| Operator | Canship Ugland Limited [3] |
| Port of registry | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador,  Canada |
| Ordered | 27 February 2004[1] |
| Builder | Universal Shipbuilding Corporation Maizuru Shipyard (Japan)[1] |
| Yard number | 10003[1] |
| Laid down | 2 August 2005[1] |
| Launched | 14 November 2005[1] |
| Completed | 13 April 2006[1] |
| In service | 2006– |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | Bulk carrier |
| Tonnage | |
| 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[4]) |
| Propulsion | Single shaft; controllable-pitch propeller with nozzle |
| Speed |
|
| 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, Umiak I 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".[5]
Umiak I makes twelve trips per year, transporting a total of 360,000 tonnes of nickel concentrate, worth $1.5 billion CAD.[4]
Fednav also operated a similar ice-strengthened bulk carrier, Arctic, which shared the load with Umiak I; she was later scrapped in 2021. 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. Another similar vessel, Arvik I, was built in 2021.[6]
Design edit
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.[1] 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.[4]
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.[2] In addition to bulk cargo, she can also carry re-supply cargoes for the production operations, including fuel oil.[4]
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.[4] For onboard electricity generator, she is fitted with three six-cylinder STX-built MAN 6L23/30H generating sets.[1]
Media edit
Umiak I was featured in an hour-long documentary in season 5 of Mighty Ships.[7][8]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Umiak I (25884)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
- ^ http://www.canship.com/nl/vessels/mv-umiak-i/
- ^ Umiak I, The Gossan: A Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Publication, issue 10, April 2006
- ^ "Arvik I". DNV. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Discovery Channel Canada. Retrieved 2013-24-04.
- ^ [2].Smithsonian Channel Retrieved 2013-24-04.