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 MIBS has an inclined bottom with narrower flat part, can be operated with much less ballast water than a conventional ship. Therefore it can reduce necessary ballast water treatment system (BWTS) capacity and fuel consumption as well.
The MIBS VLCC design provide the following advantages compared to conventional designs
- Reduces ballast water weight in ballast condition by around 65%, BWTS capacity by 50%.
- With the same deadweight and the same speed, fuel consumption goes down by 4% in full loaded condition and 20% in ballast condition respectively.
- Average energy saving rate is as high as 12%.
Although IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention is not expected to come into force any time in the near future, installing BWTS, as required by the convention, means increased financial and technical challenges. The new MIBS VLCC may serve as a solution in order to avoid increased BWTS costs and at the same time reduce vessel’s fuel consumption.
Source: Namura Shipbuilding
Officer of the Watch 
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