corageous ace – MOL leads the way with aerodynamic PCTC

Built at the Japanese yard of Minaminippon, the 57,500 gt pure car truck carrier (PCTC) Courageous Ace is the lead vessel based on a new design jointly developed by shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Universal Shipbuilding. It features a bow which is aerodynamically rounded and beveled by 38 degrees to help reduce pressure from head winds by approximately 20%, resulting in a 4% improvement in fuel economy.

In addition, the garage deck, situated on the upper deck, has a longitudinal cut designed in such a way that the wind can pass through to reduce by 19 % the influence of side winds that cause leeway and adversely affect the ship?s speed. This adds another 6% in fuel efficiency and the combined result has led to a speed increase of 1 knot, depending on the direction of the wind.

The 6,400 vehicle capacity newbuilding has a FP propeller fitted with PBCF (propeller boss cap fins) giving a service speed of around 20 knots. This PBCF system was developed and designed by MOL in the late 1980s and is claimed to enhance propeller efficiency by 4-5 %.

Not content to rest on its laurels, MOL is already planning the next series of 12 newbuildings which, in addition to being based on this new design (patent pending), may incorporate triple hull fuel oil tanks.

The Courageous Ace was featured in the May 2003 issue of The Motor Ship.