Readers who had a view of Port Phillip on Wednesday, July 22, would have seen a very unusual ship. It was low and completely flat apart from the bridge and accommodation superstructure at the bow and two vertical blocks at the stern.
The ship was the semisubmersible heavy-lift vessel m.v. Black Marlin, which arrived from Durban, South Africa. The Black Marlin was in the bay only to refuel for her passage from Hobart, heading north of New Zealand and around Cape Horn to Uruguay, taking about 40 days.
Built at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1999, the Black Marlin is owned by Boskalis and is one of the world’s largest heavy-lift ships at 217m long and 42m wide. The Black Marlin loads by sinking its deck to 10m below the surface; the cargo is floated precisely into position above the deck and the ship then rises, lifting the cargo. It requires a depth of water exceeding 24m to enable the process to take place, with 10 hours being necessary to sink and again to raise the ship.
Black Marlin left Hobart on Wednesday, August 5, with its cargo, the world’s largest electric-powered ferry valued at more than $200 million. The roll-on/roll-off ferry, which was built in Hobart by Incat, will be named China Zorrilla after a famous actress and author from Uruguay. Driven by eight electric motor-powered waterjets that draw their electricity from the largest battery ever installed on a ship, the catamaran will operate at a speed of 25 knots (46km/h).
China Zorrilla is built of aluminium and can carry 225 cars and 2100 passengers. It will operate on the service between Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the Rio de la Plata. The China Zorrilla will make two round trips a day over the short distance of 30 nautical miles (56km) and will recharge her batteries – taking 40 to 80 minutes – between the four crossings.
The 130m long and 32m wide ferry sits in a specially constructed cradle on the deck of the Black Marlin and is securely fastened for the passage to South America.
MAURIE HUTCHINSON
President, Peninsula Ship Society
T: 9787 5780
The Peninsula Ship Society meets at Hastings Yacht Club at 10.00am on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except November and December). Visitors are always welcome.
