mensions of the holds, hatches, and weather deck have been optimized for the carriage of containers, giving the vessel a maximum capacity of 494 TEUs. The SD18 is equipped with 12 ten-ton SWL cargo derricks for handling general cargo, on the assumption that if containers were to be carried it would probably be while on charter to a container line which would use specialized handling gear at port. The PNSC however has opted for a mix of two 35-ton and four 25-ton 20-m boom Velle Cargospeed units to permit container handling with the ship's own gear. These can be coupled, providing a 55-ton capacity. All the winches are electrohydraulically driven by Sunderland Forge equipment.
The weather deck and shelter deck MacGregor hatches are wire operated; those on the shelter deck being flush fitting. Maximum loading for the 'tweendeck hatch covers is 3.00 ton/m2, while the upper deck covers can sustain 1.75 ton/m2. Holds No. 2, 3 and 4 have twin hatches, 8 m wide at the weather deck and 7.74 m wide at the 'tweendeck.
For propulsion, as with the cargo gear, the PNSC has chosen to exceed the standard specification by fitting a Clark Hawthorne Sulzer 6RND 68M diesel engine instead of the five-cylinder Sulzer