HOME-GROWN VALEMAX SERIES FOR JAPAN

The NSU Brazil is the third in a series of 400,000dwt newbuilds booked from JMU to domestic account on the strength of trading commitments by Brazilian mining giant Vale. In each case, Tokyo-based shipowner NS United Kaiun Kaisha has entered into a 25-year contract of affreightment, whereby vessels will transport an estimated 40 million tonnes of ore over the agreed period.

NSU Brazil is 360m in length overall and 65m in breadth (double the beam formerly set for Panamax tonnage), and draws 23m in full load condition. Containment of the dense cargo is in a seven-hold configuration, representing a total volume of just over 240,000m3.

The propulsion engine was produced under licence from Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) by IHI Power Systems at the Aioi works of the former Diesel United, long experienced in Swiss two-stroke technology going back to the early Sulzer days. The latest seven-cylinder X82-B installation was specified at an output of 24,600kW at 73.8rpm, albeit in a model whose nominal MCR affords substantially greater scope.

The extensive auxiliary outfit encompasses five diesel generators of an aggregate 5,300kW. SOx emissions from both the main engine and the genset drives are countered by a scrubber plant.

While characteristically full in form, engendering a high block coefficient, NS United’s Valemaxhull has been designed to lessen resistance. Furthermore, proprietary JMU energy saving appendages have been adopted in the shape of the Super Stream Duct and Surf Bulb devices. Aerodynamic investigations went into determining the geometry of the accommodation block with surmounting bridge, so as to reduce wind resistance. As well as yielding an energy benefit, the result is also said to serve noise reduction goals.

The lead ship in the series, NSU Carajas, was delivered by JMU on 26 December last year, as the first Valemax ore carrier built in Japan and operated by a Japanese shipping company. Second-of-class NSU Tubarao, ordered six months after the initial newbuild contract, made her debut in September this year. NSU Brazil was expected to run sea trials this month (November).

A key loading point for the Chinese shipments conveyed by the vessels is the Ponta da Madeira terminal near Sao Luis, in north east Brazil, where iron ore from Vale’s Northern System assets in Carajas are loaded. Vale is investing in expanding the Northern System’s production capacity to 260 million tonnes per year by 2024.

Located near Kumamoto, on Kyushu, the Ariake yard is one of the jewels in the crown of Japanese shipbuilding, and includes the largest newbuild construction dock in JMU’s network of seven shipyards.