�Double Hull Bulk Carriers are the way forward,� says Hugh Williams, CEO of Graig. �The Diamond 53 design developed over the past 12 months offers owners and charterers major operational cost savings, while significantly enhancing safety and environmental protection. The design features ensure that the vessel will exceed any future standards which come out of the studies into bulk carrier safety which IMO and IACS are currently conducting. Given our experience of successfully building over 25 vessels for a range of prominent shipowners building in China, and the excellent financial package we have developed for this design, we are very confidant that the Diamond 53 will give us a competitive advantage is what is a changing and demanding market place.�

The Diamond 53 Ultra-Handymax Double Hull Bulk Carrier design has been developed jointly by Graig and Denmarks� Carl Bro, with whom Graig has a joint venture design company based in Shanghai. Whilst the vessel has been designed with very much the future in mind, it is firmly based on operational experience both from owners and Class. The vessels will be classed with DNV: - DnV +1A1 Bulk Carrier with full Nauticus package including a full 3-D model.

The first series of ships are intended to be built at Bohai and other nominated CSIC Shipyards in northern China. Graig China�s experienced Shanghai-based supervision teams will oversee the building.

Diamond 53 is a geared, wide hatched, 53,000 dwt handymax bulk carrier with double hull. The vessel has 5 cargo holds, equipped with end-folding hydraulically operated hatch covers and four 36 t level luffing cranes. The development of the Diamond 53 design focuses on:

� Economical operation / maintenance
� Environmental friendliness
� Loading flexibility and robustness
� Future regulations for bulk carriers
� Safety


Cost savings for both charterers and owners stem from lower capital costs, quicker discharge and cleaning times, and significantly lower inspection and maintenance costs. The double hull concept ensures easy discharging and cargo hold cleaning, as well as a strong and robust hull structure, using reduced quantities of high tensile steel, which is able to withstand the heavy demands on bulk carriers.

Diamond 53 is significantly safer when compared to present standard handymax bulk carriers due to the fact that double hull forms a second barrier for water ingress and allows safe close-up survey of the complete hull structure, even when the vessel is in service. Furthermore, green water protection - by the forecastle and breakwater and the protected under deck passage to the fore decks - improves the safe operation of the vessel. There is no need to use a hold for ballast in heavy weather, facilitating ballast water exchange. The current controversy and cost on fitting/retro fitting water ingress detection and alarms is obviated as this consideration only applies to single hull Bulkers.

Environmental friendliness is ensured by low emission machinery and easy ballast water exchange. Furthermore, to minimise the risk for heavy fuel oil spill all heavy fuel oil is stored in coffered tanks in the engine room.

The Graig Group is a global marine service provider with interests in newbuilding supervision, ship management, ship design, ship owning , shiprepair, IT support and ship finance. One of the first marine groups from outside China to realise the potential of the Chinese yards, it has supervised over twenty five newbuildings there on behalf of itself and major global shipowning groups. Graig has unique experience of working with Chinese shipyards, and its experienced Shanghai-based technical teams are the guarantee that Graig�s clients and partners get the best out of China.

For full technical details of Diamond 53 e-mail [email protected]

For an artists impression of Diamond 53 e-mail [email protected]

For more information contact:

Hugh Williams
CEO
Graig Shipping Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 29 2044 0200
[email protected]

Issued by:
Chris Hewer
Merlin Corporate Communications
Tel. +44 (0)1293 55 00 44
[email protected]