Two new LNG-powered bulk carriers for ESL Shipping will set industry-leading standards in environmental protection and efficiency; they are the first of their kind and will feature comprehensive equipment packages from MacGregor.
Bulk carriers are not known for showcasing major efficiency advances; however, the relatively unglamorous ship type looks set to enter a new era with the introduction of dual-fuelled eco- bulkers.
The first liquefied natural gas-powered bulk carriers to enter the market will be two new 25,600dwt Handysize vessels for Finnish owner ESL Shipping.They will be equipped with both dual-fuel main and auxiliary engines and will have 400m3 capacity type-C LNG tanks. Each vessel will feature extensive equipment packages from MacGregor.
The 160m bulkers are currently being built by Sinotrans & CSC Shipbuilding Industry Cooperation’s Qingshan shipyard in China to a Deltamarin B.Delta26LNG design. They have been developed in close cooperation between Deltamarin and ESL Shipping and will be classified according to new DNV GL rules, introduced in January 2016, for general dry cargo ships with DNV GL ice class 1A.
Deltamarin notes that the vessels’ emissions will be below all current environmental requirements and CO2 emissions per cargo tonne transported will be reduced by over 50% in comparison to the present generation of vessels.
The first ship is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2017 and the second in early 2018. Once in service, they will primarily be used to carry raw materials for steel and energy industries in the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic Sea.
“The owner has closely participated in the design process in order to fully tailor-fit the ship to meet its trading requirements for the Baltic area,” says Konstantinos Fakiolas, Deltamarin Sales Director. “For example, the optimized cargo handling and cargo hold arrangements have been developed together to ensure as efficient and flexible cargo loading as possible.”
MacGregor secured its contracts early in 2016. For each vessel it will deliver three MacGregor K3030-4 mechanical grab cargo cranes with a safe working load of 30 tonnes at 30m outreach, a design and key components package for multi- folding-type hatch covers, arranged as 6+6 panels for three holds, electrically-driven Hatlapa deck machinery and Porsgrunn steering gear.
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
“The ships have been designed to set new standards in efficiency and environmental performance,” says Anders Berencsy, Sales Manager at MacGregor. “They will be exciting additions to the bulk carrier market and we are happy that our customer chose MacGregor to supply the extensive equipment packages for them.” ESL Shipping has operated in the bulk shipping market for around 60 years. It cites flexibility as one of its key strengths and included in that flexibility is the fact that all its vessels are fitted with cranes, providing cargo-handling capability at sea and in port.
YEARS OF PROVEN PERFORMANCE
“ESL knows our equipment and has operated MacGregor cranes and hatch covers for a number of years on several bulkers in its fleet,” Berencsy continues. “The fact that it has returned to MacGregor demonstrates the company’s trust in our products and in MacGregor’s ability to deliver the multi-discipline expertise required for complete equipment packages, which now of course include Hatlapa deck machinery and Porsgrunn steering gear.”
“We wanted to have a highly efficient and reliable cargo handling system on our newbuildings, with service and spares close to our operations,” says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director at ESL Shipping. “The extended commissioning service that MacGregor is able to provide, was also an important factor in securing the contracts.”