VESSEL REVIEW | Federico C – Locally-built shrimp trawler designed for southern Argentina’s waters

Best Shrimper – Federico C (Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano)
Best Shrimper – Federico C (Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano)
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Astillero Federico Contessi y Cia, a family-owned shipyard located near Argentina's famed coastal resort city of Mar del Plata, has delivered a new all-aluminium freezer trawler to local seafood company Pesquera Veraz. Named Federico C after shipyard founder Federico Contessi, the RINA-classed newbuild will be used to catch shrimp in South Atlantic waters off Argentina's Chubut province.

The yard said the trawler is one of the many fishing vessel newbuilding projects that were initiated as part of the ongoing renewal of Argentina's national fishing fleet.

"We have long been involved in the construction of trawlers for local operators for use in coastal and freshwater environments," the shipyard told Baird Maritime, "but we also wanted to build bigger freezer vessels, even those that can compete with vessels built by foreign yards."

Federico C has an LOA of 39.95 metres, a beam of 9.7 metres, a draught of 4.2 metres, a deadweight of 340 tonnes, and space for 32 crewmembers. The yard said the vessel is also the first in the Argentine fishing fleet to be fitted with an inverted bow meant to maximise the waterline and thus improve hull speed to ensure more fuel-efficient sailings.

<em>Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano</em>
Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano

The vessel is intended to undertake multiple tasks, which also include washing, packaging, weighing, and freezing of shrimp, hence the incorporation of a wide array of freezing and processing equipment. Specifically, the owner wanted a modern vessel that was capable of freezing about 18 tonnes of shrimp per day, as each of the four existing freezer trawlers in its current fleet are over 30 years old and can only freeze a maximum of 12 tonnes daily.

"The idea was to gradually replace the older vessels with newer ones," said the yard.

The processing machinery includes belts, automatic washers, sulfiters, and worktables from Be-Inox and compressor-equipped refrigerators from PM Refrigeracion.

One Yanmar 6EY22AW main engine producing 1,389 kW at 900 rpm drives a Schottel SCP 060 2,400mm controllable-pitch, four-bladed propeller via a Reintjes LAF 1143 gearbox to propel the trawler to a cruising speed of 12 knots. The propeller rotates inside a Kaplan-type nozzle whose entire interior is made from stainless steel for increased durability.

For more precise manoeuvring, such as when positioning to ensure optimum catch, Federico C is equipped with a Sleipner SAC 1100 513mm bow thruster.

Backup power is available in the form of a pair of Mitsubishi S6R2T2MPTK auxiliary diesel engines, each with an output of 544 kW at 1,500 rpm. Attached to each of the auxiliary engines is a Stamford 500kVa generator.

The vessel also comes equipped with a harbour generator setup consisting of a Cummins 6CTA engine and a Stamford 160kVa generator.

<em>Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano</em>
Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano

Ibercisa provided a comprehensive deck machinery package to enable Federico C to be fully capable of its myriad assigned tasks. The equipment includes two 100kW split-type electric main winches, two auxiliary electric winches, an electric lanteon winch, a BV-certified double electric anchor winch, two anchor chain stoppers, an electric anchor winch starter/inverter, and an automatic fishing system. The command control panel in the bridge was also supplied by Ibercisa.

There is also a Ferioli hydraulic marine crane with a maximum horizontal reach of 14.7 metres and a carrying capacity of 10 tonnes.

The electronics were installed by Electronica Naval and consist of Furuno radars, JRC satellite compasses, Furuno and Seaman echosounders, ICOM and Samyung radios, Seaman autopilots, and a Samyung GPS and EPIRB. Even with this selection of electronics, the wheelhouse was designed with a minimalist feel with few large screens showing all the information gleaned from the different equipment.

Federico C also has a broad range of ancillary equipment intended to help improve the operating efficiency of the vessel and its crew. These include a Tecnicomar onboard sewage treatment plant, a Rivertrace oily water separator, and Azcue pumps.

"The main challenges we faced in building the trawler were due mainly to its size," the yard told Baird Maritime. "These included coming up with a capable vessel given the type of facilities our yard has and sourcing the many pieces of equipment. Since there are not that many local suppliers of the onboard equipment we needed for the construction, almost all of it had to be imported."

However, the builder said it was able to overcome the challenges in addition to learning new lessons, particularly in building vessels of similar or larger size more efficiently and in less time.

"Through this project, we were able to improve many of our processes, and we are applying the lessons we learned in five other ongoing newbuilding projects."

<em>Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano</em>
Photo: Contessi Shipyard/Matias Capizzano
Federico C
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Factory trawler
Classification:RINA
Flag:Argentina
Owner:Pesquera Veraz, Argentina
Operator:Pesquera Veraz, Argentina
Designer:Astillero Federico Contessi y Cia, Argentina
Builder:Astillero Federico Contessi y Cia, Argentina
Hull construction material:Steel
Superstructure construction material:Aluminium
Deck construction material:Aluminium
Length overall:39.95 metres
Length waterline:37.68 metres
Beam:9.7 metres
Draught:4.2 metres
Depth:4.15 metres
Deadweight tonnage:340
Gross tonnage:709
Net tonnage:213
Main engine:Yanmar 6EY22AW, 1,389 kW at 900 rpm
Gearbox:Reintjes LAF 1143
Propulsion:Schottel SCP 060 controllable-pitch propeller
Auxiliary engines:2 x Mitsubishi S6R2T2MPTK, each 544 kW at 1,500 rpm
Generators:2 x Stamford, each 500 kVa; Stamford, 160 kVa; Cummins 6CTA
Side thruster:Sleipner Motor SAC 1100
Steering system:Buen Rumbo hydraulic rudder
Cruising speed:12 knots
Hydraulic equipment:Ibercisa
Electronics supplied by:Electronica Naval
Radars:Furuno FAR-2228; Furuno FAR-2218
Depth sounders:Furuno FCV 1900-B; Seaman DBF-4000-SPB
Radios:Samyung SRT 3150; ICOM ICM330; Kenwood TMV7A1
Weatherfax:Furuno NX700B
Autopilot:2 x Seaman NAV 100 II
Compasses:Furuno SC-50; JRC
GMDSS:Sailor 6150; Orbcomm Skywave ST-6100
GPS:2 x Samyung N-430
Plotter:Furuno NavNet 3D
AIS:Samyung SI70
Other electronics:Ibercisa bridge command control panel; Electricidad Naval Giordano
Winches:2 x Ibercisa split-type electric main winches; 2 x Ibercisa auxiliary electric winches; Ibercisa electric lanteon winch; Ibercisa double electric anchor winch
Crane:Ferioli CA-10-4 deck crane
Other deck equipment:2 x Ibercisa anchor chain stoppers; Ibercisa electric anchor winch starter/inverter
Fishing equipment:Ibercisa automatic fishing system
Refrigeration/fish processing equipment:Be-Inox; PM Refrigeracion
Other equipment installed:Tecnicomar sewage treatment plant; Rivertrace oily water separator; Azcue pumps
Paints/coatings:Hempel
Windows:Beclawat
Interior fitout/furnishings:Isonell-Gabaldi fireproof interior panels; Isonell-Gabaldi bathrooms
Liferaft:Nautiq
Type of fuel:Diesel
Fuel capacity:124,475 litres
Freshwater capacity:49,600 litres
Crew:32

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