Smart marine initiative unveils 62,000 dwt Ultramax Bulk Carrier design that meets the ambitious IMO’s GHG reduction targets

The new Ultramax Bulk Carrier design meets the IMO 2030 environmental targets

Joint development project by Wärtsilä, Oshima & DNV GL comes up with Bulk Carrier design meeting the IMO 2030 environmental targets

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 3-Jul-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — The next-generation 62,000 dwt Ultramax Bulk Carrier design that meets the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 environmental targets has been unveiled at the Nor-Shipping exhibition in Norway. The project is a joint development of technology group Wärtsilä, Japanese ship builder Oshima Shipbuilding, and the classification society DNV GL.

The carrier design, optimised according to actual operating profiles, demonstrates how emission levels from conventional commercial vessels can significantly be reduced in compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets.

The joint project had the goals to achieve low emission levels, both at sea and in port, to meet the IMO’s requirements in reducing CO2 emissions per ship’s capacity-mile by at least 40% by 2030 as well as zero emissions during waiting time. Furthermore, creating a new standard that maximises the return on investment (ROI) for the owner has also been part of the project’s mission. Additionally, minimising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by relying on technologies currently available was a key objective as well.

Commenting on the carrier design project, Stein Thorsager, Director, Merchant and Gas Carrier, Wärtsilä Marine, said:

“Our smart marine initiative emphasises collaboration between the various stakeholders, and this project is a prime example of how effective such collaboration can be. The design is based on actual operating profile data from Ultramax bulk carriers and it incorporates an LNG-fuelled Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel main engine connected to a power take out (PTO) shaft generator and controllable pitch propeller (CPP), and the result out-performs all existing designs in terms of efficiency and sustainability.”

Commenting on the environmental targets set by the IMO, Trond Hodne, Director of Sales & Marketing at DNV GL, said:

“To help the industry meet the ambitious GHG reduction targets set by the IMO, the industry needs to come together to advance ship design. This design halves the EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) of comparable vessels, and sets a new standard for low emission bulk carriers.”

Commenting on the efficiency, Eiichi Hiraga, President at Oshima Shipbuilding, said:

“Greater efficiency and better environmental performance has been made possible through collaboration with Wärtsilä and DNV GL. Oshima alone could not have come up with this new innovative design, which includes optimised propulsion, energy storage and solar panels. It represents a future proof solution that will enable bulk carrier owners to comply with legislation while also lowering operating costs.”

When compared to standard vessels of this size and type, the high efficiency of the propulsion solution reduces the EEDI by 50 percent. The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) has already been made mandatory for new ships and it provides a specific figure for an individual ship design, expressed in grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per ship’s capacity-mile.

The Ultramax Bulk Carrier design can as well operate in an environmental mode while in port through the main use of solar panels, the installation of an LNG tank that is dimensioned based on the capacity needed for the operating profiles and the availability of LNG bunkering infrastructure. It also has an optimized hull shape, and the option to also install a hard sail to generate extra propulsion. The hard sail system has been developed jointly by Oshima Shipbuilding and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

Wärtsilä, listed on Nasdaq Helsinki, employs 19,000 and its sales in 2018 were EUR 5.2 billion. The company is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Wärtsilä is active in 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world.

Media contacts:

Ms Marit Holmlund-Sund
General Manager, Positioning, Marine Business Marketing
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 10 709 1439
marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com

Mr Naoki Shigemura
Machinery Engineer, Oshima Europe
Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Tel: +47 917 25 542
n-shigemura@ma.osy.co.jp

Mr Morten Løvstad
Vice President, Global Business Director – Bulk Carriers
DNV GL – Maritime
Tel: +47 975 63 009
morten.lovstad@dnvgl.com

SOURCE: Wärtsilä