MHI develops ‘ultra green’ bulk carrier
Image showing the proprietary Mitsubishi air lubrication system (MALS) fitted to the bottom of the new grain carriers ordered by USA shipowner
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has developed a new bulk carrier which the Japanese shipbuilder claims will enable reductions in carbon emissions by about 25% compared with conventional standard bulk carriers.
As the first commercial application of the new design, MHI will provide its conceptual design and green technologies to three grain carriers to be built for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) of the USA. MHI’s new bulk carrier design adopts the company’s proprietary Mitsubishi air lubrication system (MALS), which reduces frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater using air bubbles along the vessel’s bottom, in conjunction with a high-efficiency hull form and enhanced propulsion system. Sumitomo Corporation of Japan was awarded the order for the ship construction from ADM and Oshima Shipbuilding of Nagasaki was selected to build the ships.
Besides the MALS, which uses blowers to create air bubbles under the vessel bottom, the three grain carriers will also feature a newly designed bow shape that will reduce wave-making resistance. For propulsion, the newbuildings will be fitted with a system to optimise the main engine output for propulsion power by positioning fins forward of the propellers and placing special grooves in the propeller boss cap.
The three grain carriers will be 95,000dwt vessels measuring 237m in length, 40m in width, and a designed draught of 12.5m. The relatively shallow draught of the vessels will enhance energy savings and CO2 emission reduction efficiency by MALS. Delivery of the equipment related to MALS system from MHI is scheduled for 2014.
Although the initial talks to build the three dry bulk carriers started between ADM and MHI, MHI’s Shipbuilding & Ocean Development department has been pursuing a policy to promote engineering business, including technological support, with other shipbuilders. Under this policy the company decided, on this occasion, to collaborate with Oshima Shipbuilding, which has earned a solid reputation in bulk carrier design and construction through delivery of about 60 post-Panamax class ships. The collaboration has enabled the two companies to provide enhanced cost effectiveness to the customer.
ADM is one of the top-ranking US grain companies. The three bulk carriers, which mark the first new shipbuilding order placed by ADM, are designed to accommodate new post-Panamax requirements which, once the planned expansion of the canal is completed in 2014, will be able to cater for vessels up to 366m in length overall, 49m in width and 15.2m in tropical freshwater (TFW) draught. Current Panamax parameters are 295m LOA, 32.2m width and 12.0m draught.
The new bulkers are designed to make an important contribution to international efforts to fight global warming, a demand that is especially strong in the case of oceangoing vessels. Looking into the future, MHI will continue to accord priority to the development of vessels addressing CO2 reduction needs by focusing on development of its ‘Eco-ship’ and sales expansion of related systems and equipment.
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