HISTORY
VIRUNGA (original name) was built by the De Durme shipyard at Tielrode near Rotterdam and launched in 1960. At that time she was 38.8 m loa and fitted with two 6cyl GM 165 engines plus a Lister generator; at a later date these
engines were changed to a single 6cyl Cummins and a Perkins 6cyl generator (this generator has since been changed to a new
30 Kva Mitsubishi S4S).
The vessel was largely used for general cargo work in the canals and rivers between Holland and the south of France. She later spent
some considerable time working on the River Rhine during the course of which she changed hands and was re-registered
in Bale (Basel) Switzerland.
In 1993 she was inspected, surveyed and certified at Strasbourg, France for her Rhine Certificate.
The new skipper reportedlybecame a bidder for a bridge replacement project in Basel which required a support vessel which would be
shorter than the standard 38m and also capable of carrying extra-heavy loads. In order to meet this requirement VIRUNGA was shortened to 28.5m
and the hull bottom re-built from the stem to the engine room, with new extra-thick shell plates giving 12mm throughout with 16mm on
the chine, rather than the standard 7mm plate. This was further stiffened by additional transverse steel girders - which today provide useful support frames for the under-floor water and fuel tanks.
This work was carried out at the Spinhirny Yard at Ille de Napoleon, Mullhouse, France.
On the retirement of that skipper she was sold-on out of trade for conversion to ‘recreational’ use.
This conversion work never started and VIRUNGA remained in her commercial freight configuration until her sale to the current
owners in July 2001.
She was then entered on the Dutch register and, because the vessel had been registered outside the EU, VAT was paid The Registration number then became 10372 BG 2001 - which in turn created the official European No. 02210372
(where 022 is the country identifier for the Netherlands)
VIRUNGA was taken to Holland and professionally converted into her current configuration by SRF of Harlingen, well known for their traditional craftsmen and the very high quality of their work. Welsec, Harlingen, known for their work on ocean-going shipping, was sub-contracted for the grit-blasting of the entire vessel back to bare steel, followed by the painting of the hull and superstructure with several coats of Hemple 2-pack epoxy paint.
VIRUNGA (original name) was built by the De Durme shipyard at Tielrode near Rotterdam and launched in 1960. At that time she was 38.8 m loa and fitted with two 6cyl GM 165 engines plus a Lister generator; at a later date these
engines were changed to a single 6cyl Cummins and a Perkins 6cyl generator (this generator has since been changed to a new
30 Kva Mitsubishi S4S).
The vessel was largely used for general cargo work in the canals and rivers between Holland and the south of France. She later spent
some considerable time working on the River Rhine during the course of which she changed hands and was re-registered
in Bale (Basel) Switzerland.
In 1993 she was inspected, surveyed and certified at Strasbourg, France for her Rhine Certificate.
The new skipper reportedlybecame a bidder for a bridge replacement project in Basel which required a support vessel which would be
shorter than the standard 38m and also capable of carrying extra-heavy loads. In order to meet this requirement VIRUNGA was shortened to 28.5m
and the hull bottom re-built from the stem to the engine room, with new extra-thick shell plates giving 12mm throughout with 16mm on
the chine, rather than the standard 7mm plate. This was further stiffened by additional transverse steel girders - which today provide useful support frames for the under-floor water and fuel tanks.
This work was carried out at the Spinhirny Yard at Ille de Napoleon, Mullhouse, France.
On the retirement of that skipper she was sold-on out of trade for conversion to ‘recreational’ use.
This conversion work never started and VIRUNGA remained in her commercial freight configuration until her sale to the current
owners in July 2001.
She was then entered on the Dutch register and, because the vessel had been registered outside the EU, VAT was paid The Registration number then became 10372 BG 2001 - which in turn created the official European No. 02210372
(where 022 is the country identifier for the Netherlands)
VIRUNGA was taken to Holland and professionally converted into her current configuration by SRF of Harlingen, well known for their traditional craftsmen and the very high quality of their work. Welsec, Harlingen, known for their work on ocean-going shipping, was sub-contracted for the grit-blasting of the entire vessel back to bare steel, followed by the painting of the hull and superstructure with several coats of Hemple 2-pack epoxy paint.
During the re-build particular care was taken to maintain the classical lines of this type of vessel and it has been particularly satisfying for the current owners to receive a great many complements on the quality of SRF’s conversion, not only from fellow owners and passing spectators, but also from many current and former commercial skippers.
Recent Survey History
Notes:
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- 2 Feb 1993 Rhine Survey and Technical Inspection - Strasbourg
- 29 June 1999 Routine Rhine Survey and Technical Inspection - Strasbourg
- 24 July 2001 Pre-purchase survey for the current owners - Mulhouse
- 25 July 2007 Post- refit Rhine Certification Hull Survey - Efm, Harlingen,
- 17 April 2008 Rhine Certification Technical Inspection - NBKB, Rotterdam
- 23/24 July 2014 Routine Rhine Technical Inspection and Hull Survey - Hasselt
- 24 July 2014 TRIWV / ES-TRIN / NBKB Communautair (Community) certification - Hasselt
- 25 July 2014 Routine Insurance Valuation - Efm Verzekeringen, Meppel
Notes:
- Verzekeringen - Insurance Company
- NBKB - Netherlands Inland Shipping Bureau
- TRIWV - Technical Requirements for Inland Waterways Vessels (ES-TRIN)
- ES-TRIN - European Standards–Technical Regulations for Inland Navigation
- VIRUNGA's current routine survey-cycle is seven years; the next one is due in July 2021.
- No obligation for future owners to maintain this current high level of certification and inspection.
- No obligation for future owners to keep the vessel on the Dutch register.
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