Sinopacific Shipbuilding and MHI to jointly develop fuel-efficient bulker

Written by Nick Blenkey

sinoMHIshakeMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has signed a joint-development agreement with Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd. of China under which MHI will provide technological support to Sinopacific in the area of commercial vessel construction. MHI is currently promoting expansion of its engineering business mainly through licensing of technology, while Sinopacific is taking steps to strengthen its shipbuilding business through introduction of technologies from advanced shipbuilders. As their first collaborative work, the two firms will jointly develop an 82,000 dwt class bulk carrier.

Simon-Liang-and-Mr.-Hisashi-Hara-

Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group Chairman and CEO Mr. Simon Liang and Mr. Hisashi Hara, Representative Director (Board Member), Executive Vice President and Head of Shipbuilding & Ocean Development, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) shake hands after signing joint development agreement

Under the agreement, MHI will provide the conceptual design, including hull shape, for a new ship to be developed by Sinopacific. The initial period of the agreement is five years, with an option to extend. The agreement was signed in Tokyo by Hisashi Hara, Representative Director (Member of the Board), Executive Vice President and Head of the Shipbuilding & Ocean Development business segment at MHI, and Simon Liang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sinopacific.

The bulk carrier to be developed – the CROWN MHI 82 – will be the flagship model in Sinopacific’s “CROWN” series, the company’s bulk carrier brand name. The development program will aim to exceed international standards in carrying efficiency, environmental protection, operability and controllability. MHI will support Sinopacific in optimizing the ship’s design through provision of related technologies. The ship will be built at Yangzhou Dayang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Sinopacific group company, with development slated for completion in 2013.

Dr. Zhao Ye, Chief Technology Officer of Sinopacific, said: “The goal of a joint optimized design with MHI is to further reduce the fuel consumption of the ship, and we’re expecting to reach a level of less than 28 tons per day. We believe this is quite attractive but achievable.” 

It is reported that the tank test of CROWN MHI 82 will be conducted in Nagasaki Research & Development Center of MHI.

Sinopacific is headquartered in Shanghai and has eight subsidiaries in Yangzhou, Ningbo and Hong Kong that handle ship construction, auxiliary equipment manufacture, design and marketing. Jaccar Holdings, controlled by Jacques de Chateauvieux, the Chairman of Paris-headquartered offshore services giant Bourbon.

Sinopacific’s product lineup includes bulk carriers, container ships, small-size gas carriers and offshore support vessels. The group has sought to establish a broad range of collaborative relationships with foreign shipbuilders with advanced technologies in a quest to enhance its international competitiveness.

MHI is now promoting engineering business as the growth strategy for its Shipbuilding & Ocean Development business sector. The Joint-Development Agreement with Sinopacific will be MHI’s third in the area of shipbuilding, following similar agreements reached with Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and L&T Shipbuilding Limited last year. .

March 12, 2012

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