Heroic Ace
M.V. Heroic Ace is a PCTC (Pure car and truck carrier) owned by M.O.L (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines), one of the three largest car carrier companies in the world.[1] With a capacity of 6,400 RT 43 cars, it belongs to a class of car carriers that include the largest car carriers in the world.[2]
 Heroic Ace, Southampton, England, 11 August 2011 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Heroic Ace |
| Owner | M.O.L (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines) |
| Operator | Wilhelmsen ship management |
| Port of registry |  Panama |
| Builder | Minaminippon shipyard, Seto Inland Sea, Japan |
| Launched | 18 March 2003 |
| Identification | IMO number: 9252216 |
| Status | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 56,439 gross tonnage (GT) |
| Length | 198 m (650 ft) |
| Beam | 32.2 m (106 ft) |
| Speed | 21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph) |
She was built in 2003 at the Minami Nippon shipyard in the Inland Sea, Japan, as part of a series of 12 large car carriers. Her sister ships include Courageous Ace and Splendid Ace (built at Minami Nippon), Martorell, Progress Ace and Prominent Ace (built at Shin Kurushima yard), and Liberty Ace, Utopia Ace, Paradise Ace and Freedom Ace (built at M.H.I Kobe).[3]
The vessel's bows and superstructure were specially designed with additional rounding off to enable them to navigate at higher speeds.[4]
Ship's Particulars
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| IMO Number | 9252216[5] |
| GT | 56,439[6] |
| Flag | Panama |
| Call sign | HPFM |
| Length | 198 metres |
| Breadth | 32.2 metres |
| Deadweight | 19,879 MT |
| Speed | 21.1 kts |
The vessel is fitted with a large stern ramp, and two side midship ramps. The stern ramp is located on number 7 car deck. The midship ramps are capable of being lifted up to reach number 6 car deck, and hence can service both numbers 6 and 7 car decks.
M.V. (Motor Vessel) Heroic Ace has 13 car decks, including movable decks. The decks are moved using a hydraulic deck lifter which is part of the ship's equipment and operated by the ships officers. The vessel plies on a worldwide route, and has traded in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
As of 2011, the ship was managed by Wilhelmsen ship management - earlier called Barber ship management. The ship's officers belonged to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the ship's crew was Indian.
Gallery
- Heroic Ace docked at Southampton, England, 11 August 2011
Heroic Ace docked at Southampton, England, 11 August 2011
References
- "The history of car carriers". mol.co.jp. MOL. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- "MOL's Next-generation Car Carrier FLEXIE Series Wins Accolades". Marine link. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- "Ship design - Courageous Ace". Ship technology. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- "Features in new car carriers". mol.co.jp. MOL. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- Z, Li; W, Altenhof (2003). "Experimental and numerical testing of a prototype car-carrier structure with suggested design improvements". International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems. 10 (4): 257. doi:10.1504/IJHVS.2003.003693.
- "Ship particulars" (PDF). cargo-vessels-international.at. Retrieved 4 July 2018.