The RoRo MV Tapiola is the first vessel in a series of 5 ships. She was delivered from Nagasaki Shipyard & Engine Works, Japan in August 1978. The vessel is specially suited for high & heavy cargo, project cargo and containers but she also has flexibility to carry trucks and cars with high payload efficiency.
MV Tapiola was converted by replacing container space on deck 4 and adding extra car decks by Chengxi Shipyard China in 2004. MV Tapiola is a sistership to MV Toba, MV Talabot, MV Tampere and MV Tourcoing.
The ship is built to the class of Lloyd's Register of Shipping with the following designations: +100 A1 Roll on Roll off cargo ship, movable decks + LMC, UMS.
Deck and Ramp System:
Heavy units are loaded on the strengthened deck 1 which can carry loads of 10 tons/m2. Deck no. 2 and 3 can be used for heavy loads up to 4 tons/m2 and deck 4 can be used for stowage of units up to 3 tons/m2 if needed. Hoistable deck no. 2B together with deck 3B and 3C allow loads up to 0.2 tons/m2. Garage deck 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are specially designed for stowing cars.
Stern quarter ramp is located aft on the starboard side and arranged with a 37-degree angle of incident from the centre line with entrance on deck 3 AFT. This angle together with a ramp width of 12 m assures flexibility in loading and discharging operations. Maximum total load is 400 tons and maximum vehicle load is 154 tons.
Anchoring/Winches:
The forward deck machinery consists of 2 x 20 tons electric combined windlass/mooring winces and one 10 tons electric mooring winch. Amidships 2 x 10 tons electric mooring winches and aft there are 2 x 10 tons and 2 x 20 tons electric mooring winches. This arrangement secures good flexibility and sufficient mooring capacity for the vessel.
There is an electro/hydraulic crane on Dk-6 STBD between funnel and superstructure with a capacity of five tons for bringing onboard supplies and spare parts.
Cargo ventilation:
Fans evenly distributed throughout the vessel on upper deck create good ventilation during loading/discharging and voyage. The lower holds are ventilated with 30 air changes per hour. The intermediate holds are ventilated with 25 air changes per hour while the uppermost hold is ventilated with 20 air changes per hour.
Machinery:
The main engine is a Sulzer Diesel Engine 9RND90M with NCR output 20000 Kw at 118 rpm with remote control from bridge or control room. The ship is fitted with a fixed 5 bladed propeller with diameter 6800 mm. For increased manuvering abilities two Mitsubishi KAMEWA thrusters are installed, one forward and one aft.
For electrical power supply there are 4 Daihatsu diesel generators 2 pcs. 6DS 32 with an output of 1550 Kw each and 2 pcs. 8DS 32 with 2000 Kw each. In addition there is one emergency diesel generator that assures sufficient power if needed.
The vessel is equipped with a highly effective Half spade type rudder to assist in controlling the lateral movements of the stern.
The navigational system:
GPS 1&2: Racal Decca Bridge Master" (10 cm & 3 cm)
GPS 3&4: Leica MX400
Radar 1: Raytheon Pathfinder/ST Mk 2 ARPA (10cm)
Radar 2: Raytheon M 34 ARPA Mod.3410/12S (10cm)
Radar 3: Raytheon M 34 ARPA Mod. 3425/7 x (3cm)
Electronic chart: Telechart 2025
Auto steering: Sperry ADG 3000 VT
Gyro 1 & 2: Sperry MK37
Magnetic Compass: Leica MX400
Navtex: 1KI-Kata Navtex
Speed Log: Sperry SRD 301
Echo Sounder: Skipper GDS 101
Weather fax: Furuno FAX207
Communication/GMDSS:
Inmarsat C: SKANTI Combridge 9500 Scansat-CT
Satcom B: 1 NERA Saturn B terminal
VHF 1, 2 and 3: SKANTI 3000
Walkie Talkies: Motorola Radius GP 300 and GP 340 (for internal communication)
3 Portable VHF'S: Navico AXIS 150 GMDSS
2 Radar Transponders: MC Murdo RT9-3
Interior:
All cabins are located on deck 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the accommodation and the vessel is equipped with gym, sauna, swimming pool, outdoor basketball court and 2 TV/dayrooms to provide the crew with the possibility of relaxing activities. Pilot staff facilities are located on deck 8 for easy access to the bridge.
Security arrangements:
For fire extinguishing, the ship is fitted out with a 30 ton fixed low pressure CO2 system for engine room and cargo holds. In addition there are a number of portable dry powder, water and CO2 fire extinguishers.
The vessel is equipped with 2 Harding totally enclosed life boats capable of carrying 50 persons each. The vessel has 4 inflatable life rafts with a capacity of 25 persons each, one inflatable life raft capable of carrying 12 persons and 3 Survival suits.