SWIRE PUTTING STAMP ON HANDYSIZE MARKET

The programme assigned to Japanese yards opened with last year’s completion by Hakodate Dock of a pair of 34,900dwt loggers, followed by the roll-out of a series of eight vessels of 37,000dwt booked from prolific bulker constructor Oshima Shipbuilding. The designs involved ensure a high degree of trading flexibility, enhanced by self-sufficiency in cargo handling, and the ships will consolidate Swire’s prominent position in the handysize sector.

Negotiations for all 10 newbuilds had been finalised in 2017 when Swire Bulk had constituted a division of Singapore-based China Navigation Company (CNCo). The bulker specialist, which became the largest part of CNCo’s business in recent years, has undergone major fleet renewal plus growth through company acquisitions since 2012, and was separated out as a stand-alone, privately-held entity at the start of 2021.

While Swire Bulk has a global remit, the log trade in the Pacific and south Atlantic forms an important niche sector and the new and prospective fleet additions sharpen its competitiveness in that field while offering full scope in mainstream bulk commodity flows.

The 34,900dwt sisters Singan and Sungkiang, designated the S-class, joined the fleet from Hakodate Dock in mid-2020, while the lead ship in the Oshima-built K-class made her debut last November as the Kaifong. The final vessels of the K-class are due before the year’s end.

The Kaifong type embodies five holds within main hull dimensions of approximately 180m by 30m, and draws some 10.3m on a maximum deadweight of 37,440t. The cargo spaces offer a total volume of 46,900m³/46,400m³ on grain and bale measurements, respectively, and are plumbed by four centreline-mounted cranes of 30t lift capacity, and the weatherdeck is strengthened and fitted for deck loads.

The main engine is a five-cylinder model of MAN’s S50ME-C8 type, produced at the Tamano complex in Japan by Mitsui E&S Machinery. The K-class is listed by the owner as achieving about 13.7 knots on some 19.3t of low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) per day when in a laden condition. In-port consumption, with the vessel working cargo using her array of cranes, can amount to just over 6t per day, reducing to 2.5t when the ship is idle. The auxiliary installation is also of Japanese supply, whereby the gensets are founded on Yanmar six-cylinder EY18AL diesels.

The S-class logger bulkers encapsulate a design prepared by Namura Zosensho, parent of shipbuilding contractor Hakodate Dock, embracing the high level of structural stability and robustness which are fundamental requirements of log carriage. While powered for a 14.5-knot full-load speed, the ships have been developed for an optimal speed and consumption combination at 12.5 knots in a ‘full and down’ state. Hull form efficiency has been improved through the adoption of a rudder bulb, wake fin, and pre-swirl device.

Almost identical to the K-class in length and breadth, the S-type has slightly less draught at 9.8m and a smaller below-deck cargo intake of 44,168m³/42,911m³ (grain/bale). Like the Oshima series, the cargo section embodies five holds interposed by four cranes, albeit of marginally greater muscle at 30.5t lift capacity.

The preceding stage of development and modernisation of CNCo’s Swire bulk shipping interests saw a total of 32 handy-size units, 24 of which are categorised as loggers, commissioned into its control between 2014 and 2018.

Swire Bulk’s market presence was boosted in 2019 as a consequence of the acquisition from the A.P. Moller-Maersk group of the bulk shipping business of Hamburg-Sud, whose 45 chartered vessels spanned the handysize, supramax, Panamax and Kamsarmax segments.

The ‘new’, independent Swire Bulk concern has firm trading commitments to 2038, a diversified cargo base, and an extensive fleet made up of both owned and chartered tonnage and amounting to about 150 ships.

PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS – K-class logger/bulker Kaifong