Designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
A new bulk cargo carrier ship, designed by Japan-based industrial machinery manu- facturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), uses the company’s Mitsubishi air lubrication system (MALS) and an efficient hull form and enhanced propulsion system to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 25%.
As the first commercial application of the new design, MHI will provide its conceptual design and green technologies for three grain carriers to be built for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADMC), of the US, the company announced.
“The new bulk carrier design adopts the company’s proprietary MALS, which reduces frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater by using air bubbles produced by blowers at the bottom of the vessel, along with a high-efficiency hull form and an enhanced propulsion system to enable reduc- tions in CO2 emissions by about 25%, compared with conventional bulk carriers.
Bow Shape
The three grain carriers will also feature a newly designed bow shape that will reduce wave-making resist- ances. For propulsion, the ship adopts a system to effec- tively convert the main engine power into propulsion power by positioning fins forward of the propellers and placing particular grooves in the propeller boss cap, the com- pany explains.
The three grain carriers will be 95 000 t deadweight tonnage vessels, 237 m long, 40 m wide and 12.5 m in designed draught. The shallow draught of the ships enables the energy sav- ings and CO2 emission reduc- tion efficiency through the MALS.
MHI developed the MALS as a key measure to reduce CO2 emissions from ships. ADMC’s ships will be the first case in which the system is installed in another ship- builder’s vessel.
Japanese company Oshima Shipbuilding will carry out the basic design work as well as construction, based on the conceptual design and green technologies provided by MHI.
Delivery of equipment related to the MALS from MHI is slated for 2014.
“The new bulk carriers are designed to make an impor- tant contribution to inter- national efforts to fight global warming, a demand that is especially strong in the case of ocean-going vessels.
“In future, MHI will con- tinue to accord priority to the development of vessels addressing CO2 reduction needs by focusing on devel- opment of its ‘Eco-ship’ and sales expansion of related systems and equipment,” the company says.
Meanwhile, MHI’s Ship- building & Ocean Develop- ment segment has been implementing a policy to promote engineering business, includ- ing technological support to other shipbuilders. Under this policy, the com- pany decided to collaborate with Oshima Shipbuilding, a firm that has earned a repu- tation in bulk carrier design and construction through delivery or order receipt of about 60 post-Panamax-class ships.
“The collaboration has reduced the cost for the customer. The three bulk carriers, which mark the first new shipbuilding order placed by ADMC, are designed to accommodate new post- Panamax needs,” MHI states.
Source: Engineering News