NEW ECO-CLASS POST-PANAMAX BULKER

The 229m gearless bulker is the first example of the neo87BC type developed by Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding (MES-S) and turned out by its Chiba yard in Tokyo Bay. The neo87BC augments the MES-S Eco-Ship line-up, which includes six other sizes of bulker and crude carrier optimised for energy efficiency, cargo deadweight and production process efficiency.

The new design offers a high degree of trading flexibility, including suitability for lifting grain out of draught-restricted ports and terminals on rivers in North and South America, and for the bauxite traffic from West Africa. The post-Panamax neo87BC, built to a beam of nearly 37m and providing a 103,160m3 capacity in seven holds, is the first class in the series to apply the Harmonised Common Structural Rules (H-CSR).

Ocean Gold is the lead ship in a trio of sisters ordered for Singapore-based Ocean 21 Holding. The vessel is powered by a six-cylinder model of MAN Energy Solutions’ S60ME-C10.5 diesel rated at 9,000kW, to give a service speed of about 14.5 knots. The engine is Tier III NOx-compliant by virtue of the incorporation of high-pressure selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, whereby the reactor is located upstream of the turbocharger.

With specially developed honeycomb formation and materials, as well as an integrated mixing unit, the overall size of the reactor in the proprietary MAN SCR-HP system for two-stroke applications has been substantially reduced compared to other designs and its medium-speed counterpart. The main engine and turbo emanate from licensee MES-M’s Tamano works, while the SCR-HP unit was manufactured in-house at MAN’s Deggendorf facility.

In addition to meeting specific sulphur emission criteria by switching to the requisite low-sulphur fuel oil, the design has been prepared so as to give the option of fitting a scrubber plant.

Ocean Gold was handed over on 16 November and second-of-class Ocean Jade is expected to be completed during January, with the third ship to follow a couple of months later. Ocean 21 owns and operates supramax, ultramax and Panamax bulkers, and husbandry of the latest addition has been assigned to Hong Kong-headquartered Fleet Ship Management.

The execution of the project takes place against the backcloth of the strategic decision by the MES Group to withdraw from merchant shipbuilding at Chiba by March next year.