World’s first hybrid turbocharged bulk carrier

Shin Koho is claimed to be the first ship fitted with a hybrid turbocharger system jointly developed by four Japanese companies, i.e. NYK, Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), Universal Shipbuilding Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The 292m long, 45m wide newbuilding is powered by a 20,090kW MAN 7S65ME-C two-stroke mechanical diesel engine driving a single FP propeller for a service speed of 15.35 knots.

In a standard diesel engine configuration, the entire exhaust gas discharged is normally fed into the turbocharger which turns the turbine at high speed to drive the compressors which, in turn, supplies combustion air to the engine thereby boosting its power output.

The Mitsubishi MET 83MAG hybrid turbocharger hybrid turbocharger system, on the other hand, uses part of the exhaust gases to feed a turbine to drive an electric generator. This system is called the turbo-compound system where approximately 5% of the extra rotational force generated by the turbine is used to generate up to 750kW of electrical power. According to NYK, Shin Koho can meet all its onboard electric power requirements for normal operation by using a hybrid turbocharger instead of diesel generators and, by reducing the use of the diesel generator, the hybrid turbocharger contributes to a further reduction of CO₂ emissions.

The technology development of the hybrid turbocharger has been selected as a subsidized project by the Japanese ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism under the ‘Support for technology development for curtailing CO₂ from marine vessels’ project and supported by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) as part of assistance provided through a joint research scheme.

NYK says it is continuing to be proactively involved in environmental issues through further technological innovations.

Principal dimensions:

Length oa 292m

Breadth 45m

Designed load draught 18.15m

Depth 24.50m

Gross tonnage 93,031gt

Deadweight 180,000dwt

Prime mover 1 x 20,090kW MAN 7S65ME-C

Service speed 15.35 knots