SMART SHIP RANKING FOR LPG TANKER

The 38,900m3-capacity, fully-refrigerated Hourai Maru incorporates IMO Type B independent, prismatic tanks and affords a multipurpose cargo carrying capability that includes commercial propane with maximum 5-mol% ethane, anhydrous ammonia, and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). The ship’s main dimensions allow access to key ports and terminals involved in the global LPG trade.

The containment solution, promising high safety performance based on structural fatigue analysis and easier maintenance due to the partial secondary barrier of low temperature-resistant steel, has enabled maximisation of the hull envelope, with all tanks placed underdeck. Cargo changes and tank conditioning are facilitated by two deck tanks.

Construction was effected by Namura Shipbuilding’s Imari Shipyard & Works, which has an extensive track record in LPGCs up to the largest sizes, to the order of Southern Pacific Holding Corporation, associated with the Japanese group Kumiai Senpaku. Hourai Maru is the first of a new type from the yard in northern Kyushu. Shipmanagement functions have been entrusted to the Singapore company Synergy Maritime.

The primary power installation is a six-cylinder G50ME-B9.5 diesel manufactured under licence from MAN Energy Solutions by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding’s Tamano factory, and specified at a rating of 7,990kW at 97rpm.

The layout includes settling and service tanks for low-sulphur fuel oil, and design provision has been made for the possible, future retrofit of an exhaust gas cleaning plant. Readiness for a scrubber system, in the light of the IMO 2020 sulphur cap, is confirmed by the ClassNK notation EGCSR-G.

Hourai Maru has also been certified by the Japanese classification body with the SMARTShip digital solution developed by Alpha Ori Technologies (AOT)of Singapore. SMARTShip collates data from throughout the vessel and displays this information to enable crew and managers to effectively monitor disparate systems and assist in making rules-based decisions.

ClassNK’s certification approves the platform as a computer-based system which conforms to the society’s rules governing a product performing remote monitoring and diagnostics, situation awareness, and decision support, both onboard and ashore.

AOT’s co-chief executive officer Rajesh Unni is also the founder and CEO of the Synergy Group, into whose shipmanagement care the new vessel has been placed.

PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS – Hourai Maru