Mitsui Shifts Focus From Shipbuilding

The completion of the 66,300dwt geared bulker Jal Kalpataru at the Tamano yard signified the end of an era for Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, which has made the strategic decision to focus on engineering services.

As the 23^rd representative of the neo66BC design of shallow-draught, wider-than-Panamax beam bulk carrier, the Jal Kalpataru provides another efficient maid-of-all-work for the Imabari-based Shin Doun Kisen, which received an identical newbuild, Jal Kalpavriksh, from Tamano earlier in the year. The vessels are husbanded by T-Erudite Ship Managers of Mumbai and sail under the Panamanian flag.

On a length overall marginally under 200m, and at 36m breadth, the newbuild type provides a competitive deadweight/cubic capacity relationship, offering an underdeck volume of nearly 83,000m³ in five holds suited to bulk commodities such as ore, coal and grain as well as lengthy and heavy cargoes such as steel pipes and hot-rolled coils. The hatch openings are among the largest in this category of bulkers as regards both length and width, and the hold spaces are plumbed by five centreline deck cranes suited to both grab and hook working.

Present trade patterns indicate substantial demand for such tonnage, drawing less than 13m on summer marks and some 3.8m in excess of the former Panamax beam limitation.

The design applies the harmonised Common Structural Rules (H-CSR), employing a hull form calculated to give good performance in rough sea conditions as well as in fair weather. Manufactured under licence from MAN Energy Solutions at Mitsui E&S Machinery’s prolific Tamano plant, the main engine is a seven-cylinder model of the S50ME-C9.7 diesel, rated in the specific application for an output of 8,330kW at 98rpm. Service speed is about 14 knots.

Notwithstanding the larger deadweight, falling within the Ultramax league, the fuel consumption of the neo66BC class is said to be less than that of Supramax bulkers in the 50,000-60,000dwt range.

Prior to the completion of Jal Kalpataru at Tamano, merchant shipbuilding had already ended this year at Mitsui E&S Group’s Chiba yard. In March, the company entered into an agreement, effective from 1 October, for the takeover of its business in naval and governmental vessel construction, plus autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Furthermore, a deal has been struck with Tsuneishi Holding whereby the latter is to acquire a 49% stake in Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding. The move follows the June 2018 pact on technical and R&D cooperation in commercial ship production. Tsuneishi controls yards in Japan, the Philippines, China and Paraguay, and its output includes a portfolio of standard bulker types.