Propeller upgrade for Odfjell tankers

Each vessel has an MAN B&W two-stroke engine powering a four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller

and

a power take off (PTO)-driven shaft alternator

.

The vessels’ new service speed at reduced main-engine output – combined with the implementation of MAN’s Kappel propeller blades, a fairing cone

and

a pre-fabricated rudder bulb kit – are expected to contribute to power savings

and

emissions reductions

.

The blades, fairing cone

and

rudder bulb are customised for the tanker’s hull

and

rudder designs

.

The calculated power saving has been verified by tank-test analyses at Marintek

.

Kjartan Ross, business development manager of MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Propeller & Aft Ship division, said: “With our new design possibilities, we are looking forward to offering this fuel-saving concept to other fleets with similar operational patterns

.

With the long lifetime expectancy of Odfjell’s vessels, this upgrade investment is straightforward

and

very attractive”

.

Odfjell embarked on the Kværner Class newbuilding programme of 37,500dwt ships with 52 fully-segregated stainless-steel tanks

and

piping systems in 1991

.

The first was delivered in 1994

and

the new series was packed with new technology: controllable pitch propellers, shaft alternators on main engines, bow thrusters, fixed tank-cleaning machines

and

radar positioned in each tank to gauge ullage

.

Odfjell was also a pioneer of fully computer-controlled engines

.

The last ship in the series,

Bow Firda

, was delivered in 2003

and

features the world’s firs main engine – a MAN B&W 7S50ME-C type – equipped with electronically controlled timing

and

no camshaft

.

The Kværner Class vessels scheduled for upgrade are:

Bow Flower, Bow Clipper, Bow Fortune, Bow Cecil, Bow Flora, Bow Cardinal, Bow Faith, Bow Cedar, Bow Fagus, Bow Chain

and

Bow Firda

.

Principal particulars

Vessel type Chemical tanker – double hull

Dead weight tonnage (mt) 37,500

Length overall (m) 183

.

10
Breadth (m) 32

.

20
Draught (m) 10

.

65

Engine power (kW) 14,160

Max

.

engine

and

propeller speed (r/min) 117

Shaft-alternator power (kW) 850

Propeller diameter (mm) 6,300