Deltamarin gets first order for new bulker design

Deltamarin has received the first order for its B.delta37 standard bulk carriers, which have gotten market interest of the market with their improved cubic capacity and  low fuel consumption compared to other available designs. It has signed an agreement with China’s Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. for the design of four handymax bulk carriers to be built for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. Deltamarin will take care of the basic and detail design of the vessels as well as technical procurement handling and will also have a site team to take the design to production.

The overall vessel length will be below 180 m and the beam 30 m. The service speed at design draft is 14.0 knots. The deadweight is about 40,000 metric tonnes at scantling draft. The vessels will have five cargo holds and can take 50,000 cu.m of cargo.

Deltamarin has focused on fuel efficiency, sustainability and safety during the concept development process, while simultaneously focusing on the cost efficiency of the concept. Mode-tested daily fuel oil consumption at design draft is only 18 t including 15 percent sea margin and annual output of CO2 is estimated to be reduced by 5,000 tonnes compared to existing vessels of same size range.

The design of the vessels ordered by Louis Dreyfus has been customized to fulfill the group’s high standards and includes special features for log transportation.

Derivative designs of B.delta series (37 and 64) are currently already being built at Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry (Laker Bulk Carriers and Self Unloaders) and Chengxi Shipyard (Panamax Self Unloaders). There are serious discussions ongoing with several ship owners for continuation of the B.delta37 series as well as for the B.delta64 bulk carriers. The lower fuel and  operating costs and added cargo capacity are very much of interest to shipowners, whereas the lower light ship weight resulting in less required steel and the optimized hull form benefit the shipyards.

April 13, 2011