GENERAL
The same group of investors, who already ordered the Adfines tankers, ordered also the building of 4 so-called "Handysize" bulk carriers ("handysize" are vessels of approximately 35-45'000 mt DWT capacity, able to enter many small harbours). This contract apparently was concluded on 30.11.2006 and was given to the shipyard Zhejiang Zhenghe Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Zhoushan, ZJ Provinz, Peoples Republik of China. Originally it was planned to register these vessels under the flag of Liberia. These 4 bulk carriers are:
| Hull No. | Name | IMO No. | Take-over date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3001 | ADFINES NORTH | 9621869 | 29.03.2012 |
| 3002 | ADFINES SOUTH | 9621871 | 24.05.2012 |
| 3003 | ADFINES EAST | 9621883 | 27.06.2012 |
| 3004 | ADFINES WEST | 9621895 | 22.11.2012 |
The Adfines Group purchased these four bulk carriers in 2011, when the construction of the vessels was not commenced or was in a very early stage of construction. The latin "ad fines" in English "at the border" is the origin of the name of the Swiss community of Pfyn in the Canton of Thurgovia, see also Wikipedia under "Pfyn". The technical and commercial management was allocated to ABCmaritime, Nyon, Switzerland.
The four ships were now built under the supervision of an engineering team of ABCmaritime and in the course of 2012 taken over by the owners. The individual sections were built in various shipyards in the region of Shanghai, brought to the builder's shipyard Zhejiang Zhenghe Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and assembled on the slipway.
These bulk carriers have 5 cargo holds / 5 hatches with a total DWT capacity of about 37'000 mt. Four cranes, made by MacGregor, each with 30 metric tons SWL are available for cargo handling, however no grabs for grain and similar cargoes are supplied. All four vessels are sailing in time charter for Cargill S.A., Geneva. The US-company Cargill is one of the largest, globally operating grain traders and its shipping activities are concentrated in Geneva, see Cargill but also our company history of Tradax, Geneva. The ships are engaged in world-wide tramping and can be sublet, for example to Cargill Singapore or other companies.
ADFINES WEST
This bulk carrier was the fourth and last ship and was constructed under hull No. 3004. The keel laying was in March 2011 and the launching of ADFINES WEST was on 31.08.2012. The ship was handed-over to her owners Southtank Four Shipping Corp. Ltd., Monrovia, Liberia on 22.11.2012. The technical and commercial management is done by ABCmaritime, Nyon, Switzerland. The ADFINES WEST was registered under the flag of Malta with home port Valletta (official No. / IMO No: 9621895, call sign: 9HA2986).
These ADFINES WEST and the ADFINES SOUTH were launched with a new method, using large air-filled rubber rollers. The sections were put on the usual blocks, then the hull was welded together. The air bags are positioned shortly before launching, the air bags are filled with pressurised air and the blocks removed. For launching the fastening ropes are released and the ship begins to roll down into the water. We have received interesting photos from Mr. Fritz Tischhauser, leader of the ABCmaritime engineering team, see under "Diverse Photos" (see also www.blueoceantackle.com under "Marine Supply & Equipment", then "Ship Launching Air Bags")
The ADFINES WEST has a deadweight of 36,940 mt on a summer draft of 10.40 m. The cargo hold No. 3 can be used for ballast water.
Propulsion is by one slowspeed, 6-cylinder crosshead diesel engine, from MAN B&W, constructed under licence by Hyundai, type: 6S46MC-C8. The engine develops a power of 6'300 kW at 112 RPM and is directly coupled to a fixed pitch propeller. Three diesel generators and one emergency diesel generator produce the electricity (A.C. 440/220V, 60 Hz) for the ship's services.
The crew consists of 20 to 22 persons, with the master and chief engineer being from the Ukraine and the rest of the crew are Filippinos.
The first voyage of ADFINES WEST was from two loading ports in China around Cape of Good Hope to West Africa with general cargo for Bata, Malabo (both ports in Guinea Equatorial) and for Tema in Ghana. On the way a call was made in Singapore for bunkering.
Sold on April 6th, 2017 at Shanghai to Vola Navigation Ltd. (Management: Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) Varna) and renamed VOLA, named after an Bulgarian mountain peak. Flag and registry unchanged.