maersk methanol vessel
Photo: Maersk Line

Maritime veterans do not appear to think much of Maersk’s new methanol vessel design, saying the forward-situated superstructure will cause a host of problems.

Ex-ship’s captain Arjun Vikram-Singh, currently CEO of Quantum BSO, said: “Thank God I’m ashore,” and called the new design a “monster”.

He added: “I hate to think of the poor souls who will sail on these ships. I wonder if any thought has been given to their comfort, let alone ‘small’ aspects of bridge management.”

Mr Vikram-Singh took issue ...

Please Register

To continue reading, please login or register for full access to our free content
Loadstar subscriber
New Loadstar subscriber REGISTER

Comment on this article


You must be logged in to post a comment.
  • Martyn Benson

    January 14, 2022 at 2:48 pm

    Who says there will be any crew on board? Maybe Maersk is planning for these vessels to be autonomous – nothing would surprise me.

  • sunrit rustagi

    January 14, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    I can only agree with the fact that the forward accommodation exposed to the weather coupled with the movement of the vessel is the worst place to be even in slight swell, let alone in heavy weather!

  • Paul Benecki

    January 14, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    This design is only novel because it’s on a vessel class that comes with high expectations for crew comfort. Virtually every offshore vessel is built this way, and many heavy-lift ships, fishing vessels and coastal cargo ships too. Are they comfortable in a storm? No – it can be like living inside a washing machine. Are there people who can do it? Yes – a subset of mariners who don’t mind seasickness serve aboard these working vessels every day. Some of them prefer the house-forward layout because of the forward visibility from the bridge.

  • Alex Piccinini

    January 14, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    It’s obvious none of the people know what living (hopefully) through a methanol fire is like

  • Kent Anderson

    January 15, 2022 at 2:32 am

    Large large ship compensates for heavy seas. For the majority of the time, the clear view forward is an advantage that outweighs the occasional discomfort from high seas.

  • capt robert j stein

    January 16, 2022 at 8:23 pm

    this vessel is future aimed. no crew, all control automatic from a distance. crew on board only at departure and arrival.

Topics

Maersk Line