Maersk Tankers orders nine for $300 million

 

They will be built by shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries, which will deliver them from its Ningbo shipyard in China in 2017 and 2018.

Claus Grønborg, Maersk Tankers VP and head of business development, said the ships “will support our Taking the Lead strategy in the product segment and maintain our strong focus on cost effectiveness. The renewal of our fleet will help us to stay environmentally efficient, competitive and better equipped to meet our customers demands.”

First MHI-MME low speed engine enters service

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Engine Co (MHI-MME) has been developing the 500 mm bore, 2,300 mm two stroke as a state-of-the-art engine incorporating cutting-edge technology to meet market needs that including reduced fuel consumption, slow steaming, low engine-load capabilities and compliance with emission regulations.

The 6UEC50LSH-Eco-C2 in Chemroad Queen was built by licensee Kobe Diesel and was delivered to the shipbuilder, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, in March after completing shop testing, onboard testing was completed last month and the ship, owned by Iino Kaiun Kaisha, went into service without any complications.

Design of the UEC50LSH-Eco engine began with thorough market research and engine power output and speed were adjusted to those suitable for chemical tankers, handymax bulk carriers, supramax bulk carries and medium range tankers.

MHI-MME has now received follow up orders for M/E 5UEC50LSH-Eco-C2 main engines for 38,000 dwt chemical tankers to be built at Kitanihon Shipbuilding and says that many inquiries are also being received.

Principal Particulars of the UEC50LSH-Eco Engine

– 5UEC50LSH-Eco 6UEC50LSH-Eco
Cylinder bore mm 500
Piston stroke mm 2,300
Stroke / bore – 4.6
Engine output kW 8,900 10,680
Revolution min-1 108
Mean effective pressure MPa 2.19
Fuel consumption rate g/kWh 164
Weight ton 194 225

Blount delivers double hull bunkering tanker

The Chandra B is named after one of owner Stephen Bragoli’s daughters and, as we reported earlier, was launched from the shipbuilder’s newly refurbished production hall using its lift dock.

Designed by Farrell & Norton Architects, the vessel has been built to USCG Subchapter D specifications and will operate in New York Harbor and New Jersey.

Main propulsion power is provided by twin Tier III Cummins Model QSL9, six-cylinder diesel engines. Each is rated at 330 hp at 1,800 rpm and each drives a 48 inch diameter, 54 inch pitch, four bladed propeller from HS Marine Propulsion viah ZF Model W325 marine hydraulic gears with a 4.91:1 reduction ratio The vessel is also equipped with a 50 hp Wesmar hydraulic bow thruster. 

Access vessel particulars and equipment list HERE

NYK takes delivery of Japan’s first LNG fueled tug

NYK has chartered the tug to Wing Maritime Service Corporation, another wholly owned subsidiary that operates 20 tugboats at the ports of Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Chiba and which will operate the Sakigake mainly in  Yokohama and Kawasaki. It is the second environmentally-friendly tugboat to be operated by Wing Maritime which took delivery of the hybrid tug Tsubasa in March 2013.

The Sakigake is equipped with twin Niigata 6L28AHX-DF dual-fuel engines, each developing 1,618 kW. They are the prime movers for a the 360-degree steerable Niigata Z-Peller propulsion system.
The DF engines can use either of LNG and diesel oil, depending on conditions. Compared with conventional tugboats that use marine diesel oil, Sakigake emits about 30 percent less carbon dioxide, 80 percent less nitrogen oxide, and absolutely no sulfur oxide when using LNG as fuel.

NYK says that the small size of most tugboats, the limited amount of space, and the large variation in engine power make it difficult to create an LNG fueled tugboat. Keihin Dock was able to achieve the desired level of environmental performance while maintaining the same hull form and steering performance of existing tugboats. To do this, the shipbuilder made full use of its knowledge and technical strengths, and worked closely with both Niigata Power Systems and Air Water Plant & Engineering Inc.  to develop equipment for supplying LNG.

LNG will be supplied by Tokyo Gas Co and delivered to the vessel from a tanker truck at a pier in Yokohama, with a successful trial fueling being carried out in July.

The project received subsidies from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which support projects promising energy-saving logistics and innovative maritime transport improvements. ClassNK also provided joint research support.

The NYK Group has already ordered the world’s first LNG-fueled car carrier, in addition to an LNG supply vessel, and the group is set to participate in the LNG bunkering business.

BV classes world’s first ethane fueled ship

The Dragon vessels were originally designed as dual-fuel LNG/diesel powered vessels, with two 1,000 cu m LNG tanks on deck powering two Wärtsilä 6L20 DF main engines with a total output of 2,112 kW and two shaft generators with a total  output of 3,600 kW power. As we reported in May (see earlier story), as the vessels will initially transport ethane from the U.S, to the U.K. Ineos refineries, the ability to also burn ethane was added to allow use of the cargo gas as fuel. 

“The ability to burn ethane as well as LNG to power these unique vessels is a major step forward in the use of clean fuels. It means the vessels can use cargo gas during transits to provide a clean and clear commercial and environmental advantage,” says Bureau Veritas Business Development Manager Martial Claudepierre. “We have worked with Evergas and the Danish Maritime Authority to verify and ensure that the use of ethane is at least as safe as required by the IGC and will not impair the engine compliance with MARPOL Annex VI.”  

According to Mr. Claudepierre, using ethane required extra engine room ventilation and additional gas detection, plus modifications to the main engines including a lower compression ratio, different turbocharger nozzles and de-rating of the engine to cope with the lower knocking resistance of ethane. “But,” he says, “the gains in not carrying an additional fuel and in environmental performance from being able to burn clean fuel throughout the voyage are significant.”

Seadrill cancels rig order at Hyundai Heavy

The unit was ordered during the second quarter of 2012 and the delivery date stated in the construction contract was by December 31, 2014.

“Due to the shipyard’s inability to deliver the unit within the timeframe required under the contract, the company has exercised its cancelation rights,” says Seadrill, which notes that, under the contract terms, it has the ability to recoup its $168 million in pre-delivery installments to the shipyard, plus accrued interest.

In fourth quarter 2012, Seadrill was awarded a five year contract for the West Mira with Husky Oil Operations for operations in Canada and Greenland.

In its second quarter earnings report, Seadrill reported that, due to the late delivery of West Mira, the company had tentatively agreed with Husky to reduce the dayrate of the West Mira drilling contract.

Seadrill says it remains in discussions with Husky to find an alternative solution to meet its drilling requirements.

Next generation HiMSEN engine completes TA testing

The HiMSEN engine has just passed another milestone. The next generation CLEAN (Customer, Liability, Environment, Acceptable Technology, No Defect) HiMSEN engine has now completed type approval testing in the presence of eight major classification societies including ABS, DNV/GL, LR and KR.

The four-stroke CLEAN HiMSEN engine (Model H21C) improves power output by 20 percent and fuel efficiency up to 2 percent compared to the existing same class four-stroke engines, H21/32, while physical size and weight are 10 percent lower, thanks to the utilization of high pressure combustion technology.

The IMO Tier III-compliant engine emits 98 percent less NOx with the use of HHI’s proprietary Hyundai Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, NoNOx.

Mr. Youn Joong-geun, executive vice president of HHI’s Engine & Machinery Division said, “Our next-generation CLEAN HiMSEN engine is the culmination of our 40 years of technological know-hows and experiences. With the customer-oriented engineering, the high-output and high-efficiency engine will surely bring mutual benefits to HHI and its valued customers.”

Pulling plug on China yard, Algoma turns to Uljanik

These contracts with Uljanik are contingent upon delivery by the shipyard of acceptable security for the construction instalments required under the contracts. The contracts with Nantong Minde were canceled earlier this year.

“Our experience with the Uljanik Group on the Equinox 650 Class project has given us confidence in the shipyard’s ability to deliver high quality vessels on the agreed timelines,” said Ken Bloch Soerensen, President and CEO of Algoma. “Our Equinox project has faced significant delays as a result of the financial problems encountered by Nantong Mingde shipyard. Working closely with Uljanik, we are confident in the continuation of Algoma’s fleet renewal project.”

These new Equinox Class ships will feature a boom forward configuration designed to provide greater flexibility in certain delivery situations. The vessels will have an overall length of 225.55 m (740 ft) and a beam of 23.77 m (78 ft), qualifying as Seaway Max size ships. The vessels will carry 29,300 tonnes at maximum Seaway draft.

The new Equinox vessels will have all of the features of the existing Equinox design, including the exhaust gas scrubber technology pioneered by Algoma on the Great Lakes in its first Equinox Class gearless bulk carriers. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2018 with the balance of the ships set for deliveryby the end of that year.

Algoma says it is “continuing with other parties on further fleet renewal opportunities.”

Evergreen gears up for projected increase in intra-Asia trade

All twenty newbuildings are planned to be deployed in the intra-Asia trade. Evergreen believes that under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that is now being negotiated, the ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand will remove trade barriers,  boosting regional cargo growth.

The first ship in CBC series is set to be delivered during the second half of 2017 with the completion of the CSBC series due by the first half of 2018. The first ship from Imabari Shipbuilding is planned to be delivered during the first half of 2018 with the completion of the series due by the first half of 2019.

Evergreen’s B-type vessels will be 211 meters in length, 32.8 meters wide, and have a design draft of 10 meters with a capacity of around 2,800 TEU. The ships are designed to load 13 rows of containers on deck, which is within the span of existing gantry cranes in the major ports on the intra-Asian trade.

The hull design of the vessels is wider in comparison to ships of a similar capacity, enabling the ships to navigate in the shallower ports encountered in the intra-Asia trade and to enhance their cargo carrying capability. The ships can cruise at a speed up to 21.8 knots, enhancing their on-time performance and competitiveness.

Vessels operating on regional trades, such as intra-Asia, often sail in coastal areas. To reduce their impact on port communities and eco-systems, Evergreen has imposed stringent eco-friendly criteria on their operation. The B-type vessels will be equipped with a range of environmental protection devices.They will have electronically-controlled fuel injection engines, meeting IMO Tier II standards for NOx emissions and Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements.

The agreement for B-type vessels is the third project in which Imabari will participate in Evergreen Line’s fleet renewal program. Evergreen has signed agreements with Shoei Kisen Kaisha, the ship owning arm of Imabari Shipbuilding Group, to charter five 14,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2017 and eleven 18,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2018 and 2019.

Evergreen gears up for projected increase in intra-Asia trade

All twenty newbuildings are planned to be deployed in the intra-Asia trade. Evergreen believes that under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that is now being negotiated, the ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand will remove trade barriers,  boosting regional cargo growth.

The first ship in CBC series is set to be delivered during the second half of 2017 with the completion of the CSBC series due by the first half of 2018. The first ship from Imabari Shipbuilding is planned to be delivered during the first half of 2018 with the completion of the series due by the first half of 2019.

Evergreen’s B-type vessels will be 211 meters in length, 32.8 meters wide, and have a design draft of 10 meters with a capacity of around 2,800 TEU. The ships are designed to load 13 rows of containers on deck, which is within the span of existing gantry cranes in the major ports on the intra-Asian trade.

The hull design of the vessels is wider in comparison to ships of a similar capacity, enabling the ships to navigate in the shallower ports encountered in the intra-Asia trade and to enhance their cargo carrying capability. The ships can cruise at a speed up to 21.8 knots, enhancing their on-time performance and competitiveness.

Vessels operating on regional trades, such as intra-Asia, often sail in coastal areas. To reduce their impact on port communities and eco-systems, Evergreen has imposed stringent eco-friendly criteria on their operation. The B-type vessels will be equipped with a range of environmental protection devices.They will have electronically-controlled fuel injection engines, meeting IMO Tier II standards for NOx emissions and Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements.

The agreement for B-type vessels is the third project in which Imabari will participate in Evergreen Line’s fleet renewal program. Evergreen has signed agreements with Shoei Kisen Kaisha, the ship owning arm of Imabari Shipbuilding Group, to charter five 14,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2017 and eleven 18,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2018 and 2019.

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