"Μέγα τὸ τῆς Θαλάσσης Κράτος" - "Great is the Sea's Power", Pericles 495-429 b.c.
On 25 February 2013 Namura Shipbuilding acquired AIP (Approval in Principle) from NKK regarding the MIBS (Minimal Ballast water Ship) VLCC project, for which the company has been working for years together with Shipbuilding Research Centre of Japan and with the support of Japanese Government. This tanker design reduces the weight of ballast water required by about 65 percent compared with a conventional hull form.
A vessel was being prepared for Methanol loading by steaming out the cargo tanks for chloride removal. After steaming out the cargo tank, the duty officer went inside the tank for inspection and found deformed bulkheads.
During last February a very interesting article from Edmund Hughes, Technical Officer, Marine Environment Division, IMO was published in IMO’s website, explaining the new regulations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of international shipping, which entered into force on 1 January 2013 and make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to MARPOL Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. However, under regulation 19, the Administration may waive the requirements for new ships up to a maximum of 4 years.
Ten Maersk ships are getting a new bulbous bow in order to make them more fuel efficient. The change is intended to improve the performance of the vessels significantly, with fuel costs reduced by approximately 8% in the current slow-steaming environment. The vessels were too expensive to use, since they were designed for high speed. If they were retrofitted, however, Seago Line were interested in taking five vessels.
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), announced at the end of November that it has developed an independent liquefied natural gas storage tank model, the Lobe-Bundle Tank. The Lobe-Bundle Tank uses ring-shaped plates instead of conventional flat plates to reduce the weight of the tank and building cost significantly. The tank is built using spray-type insulation rather than panel-type insulation, substantially reducing construction time.
LNG-fuelled vessels promise a solution to many of the environmental challenges facing shipping over the next 30 years. To meet the needs to cut CO² emissions and maximize efficiency wherever possible, IPP Ingenieur Partner Pool developed STREAM, the new containership design for LNG-powered containerships. The concept, which has been assessed by GL and given a certificate of approval, is for a range of liner or feeder vessels from 3,000 TEU to 4,200 TEU for worldwide service.
The world’s first specialized vessel for the carriage of Nickel Ore has been built and registered to the NK class. The vessel, the Jules Garnier II, was built by Naikai Zosen Corporation and delivered to Japanese shipping major JX Shipping Co. Ltd on 19 September 2012, and is the first vessel in the world to be recognized as a Specially Constructed Cargo Ship for the carriage of Nickel Ore in accordance with the IMO’s IMSBC Code. The 27,200 dwt Jules Garnier II is the first vessel in the world to apply ClassNK’s new requirements in its construction and makes use longitudinal bulkheads in in its cargo holds to ensure stability and structural strength even when liquefied nickel ore cargoes are loaded.
This month Eniram released a study regarding hull fouling. Increased regulations and fuel prices are forcing operators of all vessel types to tackle inefficiencies in their operations. Hull fouling is a key contributor to higher fuel consumption. According to the study depending on the coating applied to a vessel, the financial impact of operating in areas with a high risk of developing fouling can be up to $500,000 a year for a single cruise vessel.
Wärtsilä Ship Design has developed a double hull, single screw crude oil tanker featuring a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) optimised hull to provide less resistance with higher propulsion efficiency. The minimum time at the terminals is ensured by the high loading/discharge rate. The CFD optimisation of the hull form has carefully considered the flow lines and pressure distribution along the hull, while the cylindrical bow accommodates a range of operational draughts even in rough weather conditions.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has installed its innovative “Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System” (MALS) for the first time on a ferry and confirmed over 5% improvement in fuel consumption.
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