Post-panamax ships to use Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System to achieve 25% CO2 emissions cut
US-based grain processing company Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) says it has ordered three new 95,000 dwt post-panamax bulkers with advanced fuel consumption saving features from Japanese yard group Sumitomo, increasing the size of ADM’s ocean-going fleet to 11 vessels.
A company statement says: “ADM’s three new ocean-going vessels will be built with technology that offers high performance while decreasing energy consumption to offer the best available environmental footprint for shipping large quantities of bulk commodities overseas.”
While the order is with Sumitomo the ships will be built by Oshima Shipbuilding to ClassNK rules. The Tokyo-based ship classification society ClassNK, ADM says, has provided project advisory assistance.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will provide “green technology” to help the vessels achieve an approximately a 25 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through superior hull form, propulsion systems and the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS- illustrated) innovative technology which reduces frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater using air bubbles along the bottom of the vessels. Fleet Management of Hong Kong is providing project management.
“Adding three new ocean-going vessels to our global transportation network supports our strategy to increase the volume of crops we handle and expand the geographic footprint of our operations worldwide It also provides greater flexibility and control of our supply chain while improving our transportation margins,” the statement adds.
Source: World Bunkering
