Trader’s Diary

SC Lois McKendrick

The 43,000 mt Lois McKendrick was built by the Manchester Main Yards in Durbana and launched 2233-05-17. The noted space-frame architects, Frengle & Worth, Ltd, provided a design optimized for clean lines, easy handling, and economical operation even at the edges of her performance envelope.

She has three main propulsion systems to allow great economy and flexibility in operation. Her Kiehl built solar sail and grav-keel generators provide excellent balance between mass acceleration and handling, giving the Lois McKendrick a spritely maneuverability for a ship of her size. For short-range maneuvering, she carries a pair of Dynamars Auxilliaries providing a low-mass power plant for critical docking maneuvers. In addition, her “mass forward” design pushes her center of gravity well forward of mid-line, even when fully loaded, giving extra leverage to the auxilliaries mounted in the stern. Finally, for inter-stellar travel she carries the reliable Mellon-Merc “Origami,” Oscar-class Burleson drive. The Origami gives the Lois McKendrick a jump range of three BUs fully loaded and four BU’s at half-capacity. For electrical power to keep all these drives well-fed, she carries four Verdad reactor/generators with Pravda voltage regulators. Lois McKendrick generates sufficient surplus capacity to make sure the ship stays in perfect trim when powered by any three — an important maintenance consideration that every chief engineer will appreciate.

In addition to her state-of-the-art power profile, Lois McKendrick is optimized for standard 12m cargo containers. Her cargo-spine can mount 72 standard-width, 36 double-width containers, or any combination of singles and doubles, which gives her a total rated capacity of 43,000 metric tons. The ability to mount a variety of containers even in the same section provides Lois McKendrick with exemplary flexibility over those vessels which can only mount one or the other.

Her crew will be comfortable as well with spacious berthing for 40 in two separate areas, each with its own sanitary facility, crew lockers, and recreational space. These berthing areas boast paired up-and-down bunks providing that critical extra space required for long voyages. These are head and shoulders above the three-up bunk arrangements common on older vessels and are a signature feature of the Frengle & Worth design. For the officers, Lois McKendrick provides six private staterooms in addition to the Captain’s Cabin in Officer Country. Junior officers used to sharing a stateroom will find the added privacy positively luxurious. But amenities don’t stop with berthing. Officers and crew alike will appreciate the 100m lap-track in Lois McKendrick’s fully provisioned gym. In addition to the track, a full complement of workout equipment, workout space, showers, and a sauna will keep everybody aboard in the best shape of their lives.

Last but not least, the Lois McKendrick’s bridge is outfitted with the best astronics, controls, and displays from vendors like Farrah Misho, Collins Communications, Arvo Systems, and Pinnacle. The comfortable stations and prominent bridge provide exemplary support for any operation whether it be container ops, docking, or transition. Your bridge crews will thank you with every evolution.

Specifications:
LOA: 216m
BOA: 24m
DW: 123,000 metric tons
Cargo: 43,000 metric tons, 72 12m containers

Propulsion:
Kiehl Sail Generator, class m
Dynamars Auxilliary (2)
Mellon-Merc “Origami” Burleson Drive (class o, range 4)

Power:
Verdad Systems reactor/generators with Pravda regulators (4)

Crew Facilities:
Captains Cabin
Officer staterooms (6)
20-person berthing area (2)

Stores and tankage:
Food storage

• Dry/canned 1000 cu m
• Refridgerated 500 cu m
• Frozen 10,000 cu m

Water

• 1000 cu m potable water
• 2000 cu m gray water
• 1000 cu m sludge

Liquid hydrogen

• 4000 cu m reactor mass
• 1000 cu m auxilliary fuel

Liquid oxygen

• 2000 cu m auxilliary fuel
• 1000 cu m auxilliary environmental

Liquid nitrogen

• 100 cu m

Lifeboats:

• 10 person evac pods (8)
• 12m pinnace (1)