Bulk Shipping and Lightering

Cummins Vessel Reference #819

The extensive network of rivers and channels that make up the waterways of the area around Ho Chi Minh City, gain an added complexity with the Saigon River that runs parallel to the Mekong Delta.

The shallower inland waters require a wide range of specialized boats. Among these are the lightering ships that bring cargo from deep draft ships, up to shallow draft inland ports. A recently delivered series of 60 by 12-meter vessels for the lightering of bulk cargos used Cummins engines.

The small ships carry 1,520-ton cargos, such as coal or cement, in a single large hold set between the forward pilothouse and an aft accommodation block. The single engine, a Cummins KTA19-M3, provides 600 HP to a 6:1 reduction gear. The Cummins dealer, Song Long Engineering Services Co Ltd. of Ho Chi Minh City, supplied the engines. With the Saigon River crowded with heavily laden small boats, speed is restricted so the 600 HP is more than adequate and safe for the passage.

The boats are designed with double hulls to provide multiple ballast tanks to maintain a limited air draft on empty voyages and to clear the low bridges. These boats play an important role in developing river shipping in an effective manner.

Photos courtesy of Haig-Brown/Cummins

For further information:

Mr Tu – Project Sales Engineer
Or Mr Hoang Van Si – Director
Song Long Engineering Service Co. Ltd.
No 138, DC11 Street, Son Ky Ward, Tan Phu District,
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Mobile: 84 9 1254 1177
E-mail: si.hoang@songlong.com.vn
Website: www.songlong.com.vn

Huy Hien Production & Trading Co. Ltd.
42/15 Au Co Street, Ward 9,
Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Phone: 84 8 3860 4566