HDPE Makker 19 garners praise

Said to be the first of its kind built in HDPE Schramm Group head Hans Helmut Schramm said he became aware of the advantages of stress and shock-resistant material during a shipyard visit to Istanbul. He described the plastic, double-hull, foam sandwich construction concept as “fantastic”.

The 9.9m by 3.8m HDPE prototype Makker 19 has been developed by the Schramm Group’s own NavConsult marine engineering company and built in co-operation with theTurkish shipyard where Schramm first came across the idea.

NavConsult is one of a number of firms in the Brunsbüttel-based group, which describes itself as an alliance of specialised firms. It is active on the Elbe Estuary and Kiel Canal in tug and tow work, port operations and transport logistics as well as marine engineering.

The Schramm Group is however entering new territory with HDPE, which reports said had only been used to date in Germany for sea buoys or small recreational boats needing no approval. Makker 19 has been approved by German insurance authorities and is classified by RINA.

Officials said the advantages of HDPE were many. Schramm reported that because of Makker 19’s low draught of just 0.80m and significantly reduced weight of 950 kg/m3 compared to steel with7 t/m3, a second engine could be installed on a Schramm mooring boat for the first time. This had made possible a redundant propulsion configuration consisting of two 250hp Cummins engines and a maximum speed of 22 knots.

Hans Helmut Schramm added that the boats unsinkability “makes working much safer” and that manoeuverability and speed had also been “entirely convicing”.

Makker 19 is said to be about a third cheaper at some €350,000 than steel boats and there are no annual hull maintenance costs. HDPE is also said to have a much better carbon footprint than steel or GRP and to be capable of complete recycling.

Other applications for HDPE such as pilot boats or police vessels were described as conceivable. NavConsult is already working on a 60x15m work pontoon. Schramm said larger HDPE lighters or ships were also possible “if, for example a plastic sleeve were combined with steel ribs and bulkheads”.