MOL orders eco-friendly bulk carrier

Over the years, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has invested in research and development to reduce the environmental footprint of its shipping activities. Now, MOL recently announced that it has ordered a new 209,000-dwt Cape-size bulker that will adopt element technologies of the next-generation ISHIN-III Large Scale Iron Ore Carriers program to achieve high fuel efficiency.

The 300 m long by 50 m wide bulker will have a depth of 25 m and draft of 18.5m and will be built by Japan’s Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, with completion expected by in late 2014.

The 107,000-gt newbuilding vessel will adopt the following element technologies which are at the core of the ISHIN-III concept. New technologies will boost fuel efficiency of the new ship by more than 20% compared to conventional Cape-size vessels, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. Advanced features include: (1) A steam turbine that generates electric power using exhaust heat from the engine;  (2) A hybrid power generation system to convert rotational force from the supercharger into electric power; and (3) The electric power gained through the steam turbine and hybrid systems will assist vessel propulsion.

January 8, 2012