NYK receives coal carrier with binary cycle power generation

Oshima Shipbuilding delivered a new coal carrier to shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) on 23 January 2019. The 89,372 DWT coal carrier, the Pirika Mosiri Maru, is equipped with a binary cycle power generation system unit, an innovative system that generates electricity from the exhaust heat emitted by the ship’s turbocharger.

NYK's Pirika Mosiri Maru is equipped with a binary cycle power generation system unit.

The generated electric power will serve as auxiliary power and will reduce CO2 emissions by up to about 2% by decreasing fuel consumption.

The binary cycle power generation system was developed by a consortium including Kobe Steel, ASAHI SHIPPING and MIURA between 2014 and 2015. During sea trials in 2016, Kobe Steel confirmed that an engine output of 7,500 kW per hour generated 125 kW of electricity. This is equivalent to about 20 to 25% of the fuel used in marine generators, depending on the conditions, and is the largest scale of power generation from exhaust heat on a ship.

The innovative system received class approval from ClassNK in early 2017.

The coal carrier will be owned and operated by NYK, and will transport thermal coal destined for Hokkaido Electric Power (HEPCO) from Australia and Indonesia.