The MV Jade Forest

Ship tour while in dry-dock after incident

Martin Leduc

Brought to you by www.dieselduck.net, comments to [email protected]

Starting out on any enterprise requires knowledge of what is involved. As a marine engineering apprentice there is a great sum of time and energy needed to be invested. We must have thorough understanding of what lies ahead before we make a commitment to this trade. So, as a class, we jumped at the chance to visit a an ocean bound freighter. Having the opportunity to visit a large ship puts our commitment in perspective and gives our formation a different degree of importance.

The ship we visited was the MV Jade Forest. She has been laid up at the Vancouver Dry-dock shipyard for some time. The MV Jade Forest is a 14 year old, Asian built, lumber carrying freighter. The ship operates from the southern British Columbia coast to Asian destinations. Three weeks prior to our visit, the Jade Forest, with a minimal load of lumber, had grounded on Snake Point off Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. She moved on her on power to Vancouver following underwater inspection by divers. She now sits on the dry-dock undergoing repairs to her hull.

We began the tour by visiting the machinery spaces. Passing through the steering flat we made our way down to the engine room. The space was wide open, but everywhere was machinery.

The layout was straight forward: On the main deck; three generators were immediately aft, lined up with the rear bulkhead. The main engine occupied the center of the compartment. On the port side of the ship, the bulkhead was lined with heavy fuel oil tanks, with their accompanying machinery: filters, purifiers and heaters. Forward of the main engine, along the bulkhead, were the heat exchangers and fresh water generator. On the starboard side: the main control room, machine shop, along with major replacement components, various machinery and their piping.

On the bottom deck, engine oil purifiers and various main engine machinery was located on the starboard side. While on the port, and forward area were various pumps and piping. Main shaft, thrust block were located aft of this area.

The main engine was a Sulzer 7RLB66 built by IHI in Japan. This engine was an impressive sight, standing approximately four stories. The top deck offered access to all the heads, turbos, and piping. One deck down was primarily for main engine inspection with access to cooling, oil delivery piping as well as main engine controls, and fuel injection pumps. On the bottom deck, crankcase inspection doors lined the length of the engine.

The three auxiliaries were Daihatsu six cylinder diesels, also built in Japan. Port generator was undergoing extensive inspection: heads, pistons, peripherals were all dismantled and being attended by three workers. Throughout the compartment, staff were busy with numerous projects. Such as, main raw water pump overall, bilge pumps, outboard valves, and thrust block work.

After a glimpse of the control room, and a brief discussion with the Chief Engineer, we headed outside to inspect top deck. Two gantry cranes towered over the large holds. The cranes were undergoing refit. Electrical drive motors, and most rolling stock were being reconditioned. It was obvious that the owners of this ship were taking full advantage of this mishap to perform numerous maintenance task.

Anxious to view grounding damage, we headed to dry-dock level to inspect hull. Even to our untrained eye, the extensive damage was quite visible. The middle half of the vessel, along the beam, was scraped, with numerous ruptures of the outer plating. Damage ended just forward of the engine room bulk head.

The ship had been strategically placed on blocks so as to ease repairs but not hinder ship’s integrity. Most frames, that were exposed, had their shape severely altered in a aft fashion. Two fuel tanks had been ruptured, and workers were cleaning them in preparation for exposure and steel work. The work was proceeding in a fore to aft fashion, with some of the damages near the forward sections already in final stages of reparation.

The tour was quite an enlightening experience. The shear size of the operation seemed a bit overwhelming at times. The knowledge required to properly operate this vessel seem almost too great to achieve. But at the same time, the reliance of teamwork was quite evident. The Jade Forest was an invaluable experience, which, strengthen our outlook and general attitude towards this trade.

Martin Leduc - December 15, 1996

March 2003

Paul M. was kind enough to forward further details about the Jade Forest. "Jade Forest was bought a couple of years ago by KGJS ( Kristian Gerhard Jebsen
Skipsrederi AS) and renamed Avocet Arrow"

The web site list the following details on the Avocet Arrow:

Type		OHGC (open hatch gantry crane)
Flag		Bahamas
Class		DNV
Builder & Yard No.		Tsuneishi 560
Year		1985
Dwt		39260
Main Engine:	Manufacturer	MES B&W
	Type	6L60MC
	Rating PS/RPM	10970/108
Cargo Cranes:	Manufacturer	Tsuji
	SWL	2X40T
Aux. Engine:	Manufacturer	Daihatsu
	Type	6PL-24/6DL-26
	Rating	2X1250/720 1X1500/720