Complete with shaft generator

APL?s newest addition, APL Holland, comes equipped with a cost-saving feature – the shaft generator. This 2,100kW generator can fully supply the electricity needs of this gearless fully cellular containership while it is steaming, if it is not carrying any reefer containers, says Michael KW Ngai, vice president of newbuildings at Neptune Orient Lines, APL?s parent. “The shaft generator helps us to conserve energy since it is powered directly by the main engine. As long as the engine is running, we can get electricity. We don?t have to burn any additional oil to drive it. It is also quiet. If we used a diesel generator, we would have to burn between 3-4t of diesel a day.” (At the end of July, IFO 380 was going for US$120 per tonne, IFO 180 for US$128, and MDO for US$188 in Rotterdam.) Ngai adds that the Thyristor generator, mounted together with the shaft, is relatively maintenance-free since there are no moving parts. It works best when the engine is operating at between 60-80% of its maximum continuous rating. This means that the shaft generator would have to be disengaged if the ship is sailing through rough seas or is in port. That is why, says Ngai, three 2,900 kW diesel generators provide the necessary backup. APL Holland is also equipped with a 150kW emergency generator. The 67,987 dwt vessel is the third of a series of four 5,500 TEU boxships built by Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea. It can carry up to 470 reefer plugs on deck and another 180 in the hold. The ship, chartered from owner Danaos Shipping of Greece, joined the transpacific trade in early August.