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Draft, December 9, 2003

MS Nivoma: New Power Barge Nears Perfection

The MS Nivoma mooring on the Rotterdam waterfront last November
to load soya beams for Germany.

Gerrit Wierdsma is a perfectionist, who like all of his sort, knows that perfection comes from attention to detail. This is evident throughout his new vessel, delivered in October of 2003, the 110 by 11-metre MS Nivoma. Designed by Rensen Shipbuilding BV to carry bulk and containerized cargos on the rivers and canals, she is meticulously laid out from the forepeak accommodations to the aft wheelhouse with its burnished wood navigation console. Similarly, below decks from the forward engine room with its sound dampening cover on the generator set to the main engine room in the stern with its bright checker plate forming an immaculate setting for her 1600 HP @ 1800 RPM Cummins KTA50 M2 main engine.

Between the forepeak and aft accommodations a huge cargo hold will accommodate 3049 metric tonnes of bulk cargo. This is 800 tonnes more than the owner’s previous vessel which had the same length but was two metres less on the beam. The ship is designed to take diverse cargos such as containers, break bulk, paper, steel rolls and bulk cargos such as soya beans, iron ore and coal. Sealed doors in the fore and aft bulkheads of the hold were used for installing machinery. The ship’s steel hull was fabricated in Gdynia Poland at MK Marine Int. before being towed to the Netherlands for completion and fitting out at Smits Machinefabriek en Scheepsreparatie BV.

Capt. Gerrit A. Wierdsma at the navigation console.

As is now common on river and canal vessels, the MS Nivoma is eqipped with a 640 HP Cummins KTA19 M3 powered Verhaar Omega Jet bow thruster. These thrusters draw water up from the ship’s bottom so that it can be directed out of one of four tunnels running fore and aft as well as port and starboard. This provides excellent manoeuverability when used in conjunction with the 1600 HP of the Cummins KTA50 M2 main engine. The main turns a 1.81-metre diameter propeller through a Reintjes WAF663 marine gear with 5.57:1 reduction. The Nivoma makes around 17 kilometres per hour full loaded and 19 kmh running light. Electrical needs are met by a pair of Cummins-powered DGBC (G15) 65 kVA generator sets. The vessel has tankage for 30 tonnes of fuel and 15 tonnes of water.

Depending on the urgency of the cargo, Capt. Gerrit Wierdsma explains that he will travel with only three people on board and anchor at night. If there is more urgency he will add a fourth crew member to travel 24 hours per day. Wierdsma’s wife Inge is full certified and serves as mate. Life is good onboard the MS Nivoma. Although it is said that her name is a contraction of the Dutch "Niets Is Volmaakt" meaning "Nothing is perfect" some would say the vessel and life aboard her is about as close to perfection as one could hope for.

Wierdsma with the MS Nivoma’s Cummins KTA50 main engine.

Additional photos available on request.

For more information please contact:

Capt. Gerrit A. Wierdsma
Groen van Primstererkade 27, 3142 GD Maassluis
E-mail nivomams@NICS.NL
G.Smits
Smits Machinefabriek en Scheepsreparatie BV.
Middelland 59. Krimpen aan de Lek.
The Netherlands
E-mail: info@smits-mf.demon.nl

Mirek Kowalski
MK Maine Int. Gdynia Poland.
E-mail: mkmarine@gda.sm.pl

G. Rensen
Rensen Shipbuilding BV.
Scheepmakerij 150. 3331MA Zwijndrecht

Henk-Jan Bax or Bas Kooy
Coordinator in Bedrijf Stelling
Cummins Netherlands
Postbus 520, 3300 AM Galvanistraat 35
3316 GH Dordrecht The Netherlands
Phone: 31 (0)78 618 1200 Fax: 31 (0)78 617 6579
Mobile: 31 (0)6 5151 5833
E-Mail: Bas.Kooy@Cummins.com

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