A typical container deck cargo which is food, stores, spares, in fact, almost anything. The flexible pipeline across the top is pumping fresh water.

Below decks there are fuel oil, bulk cement and other chemicals which are discharged through flexible hoses by compressed air.

From this diagram you are able to see what these ships are like below decks.

From the left you can see the stern flat, housing the electric motors which power the main propulsion thrusters. Next are the large white tanks which carry drilling mud which is very heavy and the pumps to discharge it about 120 feet to the platform or rig.

Then there is the engine room where four diesels drive the alternators, which produce the electricity, to supply the ship and drive the propulsion thrusters. In the engine room is an air conditioned control room and workshop for all the ships machinery.

  .

The bridge section has quite spacious accomodation for 26 people, and can take 250 evacuees or survivors from a rig. The accomodation includes all the single berth crew cabins, with a maximum of two persons sharing a bathroom, but mostly 'en suite'.

Captain and Chief Engineer, have seperate bedroom,dayroom,and bathroom. There is an office with shore linked telephones etc.

There are also the officers saloon with coffee area, and crews messroom. A large communal recreation room with VHS videos. There is a very large galley, with central island cooking facillities. There is a hospital with two beds, and full medical, and surgical equipment.

Beneath the bridge are the silos which carry the bulk cargos such as dry cement, barytes, and many other chemicals.Then at the fore end is the bow thruster rooms with store rooms and walk in fridges and deep freezers

From the area where the engine room is, you can see the ship has a double hull.  All the liquid cargos are carried here. It is possible to walk the full length of the ship below decks. It is sectioned off though, with massive watertight doors which all close automatically, in the event of problems.

For more details and pictures see the pages on the m.v.'SeaforthMonarch'