World’s largest containership designed ‘LNG ready’
The 400m loa vessel, which was delivered from Samsung Heavy Industries on 27 March, provides multiple alternatives for compliance with the global 0.5% fuel sulphur cap due to enter force on 1 January 2020. MOL, which will take delivery of the second of six sister vessels in May, reported that it is conducting feasibility studies into the use of exhaust gas cleaning (or scrubbers) and the potential use of gas fuel.
If the gas option is taken, the vessel’s main engine – a MAN B&W G95ME – will need to be converted to an ME-GI gas injection engine and a fuel gas supply system and gas fuel tanks installed. MOL noted that the vessel has been designed to accommodate these retrofit options.
The new series hosts several other energy-saving features that are claimed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per container moved by 25-30% compared to 14,000 teu vessels. A full spade twisted rudder and bulb ensures energy recovery from the slipstream of the high efficiency propeller, while a rectifier fin optimizing the flow of water into the propeller is anticipated to generate fuel savings of up to 2%. Design refinements bow and stern, including an optimised bulbous bow, are expected to provide a 4.5% gain in efficiency, while the use of a low-friction hull coating will reduce drag.
The 192,672 dwt, 14.5m design draught vessel features reefer plugs for 1,500 units.
Four of the vessels will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries, with the remaining two to be delivered from Imabari Shipbuilding. They will serve the Asia to Europe trade.
MOL Triumph sets off on her maiden voyage from Xingang in April and will sail to Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Yantian and Singapore. She will transit through the Suez Canal to Tangier, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Le Havre before calling at Tangier and Jebel Ali on the way back to Asia.
