The 3,300 dwt RMS Kiel is 97.5m long and 13.6m wide and is the coastal version of the new modular ship type. Neither monohull nor catamaran, it has a semi-catamaran bow which becomes monohull in the central cargo area. The vessel carries 88 TEUs in the hold and 130 TEUs two high on deck. RMS Kiel also boasts an optional air bubble lubrication system, which is said to reduce friction and cut fuel consumption by 15%. Innovative equipment also includes rust particle filtration and nitrogen oxide reduction technology. Propulsion is via four MRU rudder propellers, which turn 360^o, two in the bow and two in the stern. Government Environment Ministry official Rainer Sontowski praised New Logistics for developing the new system. He said in performance and energy, Futura ‘was ten times better than rail and as much as 30 times better than a truck’. A 109.8m long and 11.4m wide Futura tanker version, Till Deymann, is meanwhile due for completion at Koetter Werft in Haren/Ems by April at the latest for Gerhardt & Deymann. That ship was also begun at Con Mar, has a loading capacity of 3,375m3 and draws only 3.75m. Yard MD Hermann Koetter told MJ completion by the end of March was also possible but depended on the weather.

By Tom Todd