The first conversion project using replacement hoistable car decks based on MacGREGOR’s new COREX™ panels will provide weight savings on a 1979-built local ferry. The 42m vehicle & passenger ferry Sam-Sine will be lengthened by 5m in March. The 742 gt ship also needs to be modified to fulfil Solas requirements for damage stability. The main reasons for specifying new hoistable car decks based on lightweight COREX panels were to obtain a weight reduction and a larger free height above and below the hoistable car deck.

By substituting the existing hoistable deck with a 30m-long and 2.4m-wide new deck constructed of COREX panels, a weight reduction of 10 tonnes and extra free height will be obtained. Since the new panel deck is made of stainless steel the owner expects a reduction in maintenance costs. MacGREGOR’s new COREX panels have a wide range of potential applications in the shipbuilding industry, and most of all for fixed and hoistable car decks and ramps. Car decks based on COREX panel construction are particularly suitable for RoRo modernisation, as well as newbuilding installations. Such panel decks have substantially reduced profiles – approximately one-third the depth of traditional steel decks – and are about half the weight of conventional car decks.

The low deck profile makes a variety of conversion opportunities possible and leads to a complete re-think about second-hand values of various ships.