Ship News

The first ever newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled German seagoing vessel, which is powered by a complete Wärtsilä LNG propulsion solution, had its maiden voyage on December 11. The ship has been built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany.

The passenger ferry, owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland. This route takes the vessel close to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines.

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The world’s first smart ship has been revealed at the Smart Ship Development Forum & Smart Ship Demo “i-Dolphin” Release Meeting sponsored by CSSC on December 1st in Shanghai, China.

The 38,800 dwt smart ship project is the first civilian program of CSSC Innovation, planed and led by Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute with participation from CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, CSSC Power Research Institute and Hudong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd.

Continue reading “The world’s first smart ship is underway”

Société des traversiers du Québec, the Canadian ferry operator, has officially commissioned the NM F.‑A. Gauthier. This is the first LNG powered ferry to run in North America and is also the first ship of any kind to run on LNG in Canada.

NM F.‑A. Gauthier, the LNG powered ferry, has replaced the NM Camille‑Marcoux on the Matane–Baie‑Comeau–Godbout route.

Following an agreement concluded in 2013, Gaz Métro, through its subsidiary Gaz Métro LNG L.P., was chosen as the LNG supplier to fuel three new Société des traversiers du Québec ferries, including the NM F.‑A.‑Gauthier. The two other ships will be assigned to the Tadoussac–Baie‑Sainte‑Catherine crossing.

Continue reading “North America’s first LNG powered ferry enters service in Québec”

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has made an order for methanol powered carriers as part of its overall environmental strategy, the company has announced.

According to reports, three carriers will be built by Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co Ltd.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in 2016 and will be chartered to Waterfront Shipping Company Limited under a long-term contract.

Continue reading “MOL orders world’s first methanol powered carriers”

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) named the industry’s most eco-efficient container vessel at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Mokpo South Korea today. M.V. ‘Barzan’ is a part of the industry’s first LNG-ready ultra-large container vessel fleet.

With a loading capacity of 18,800TEU, the DNV GL classed vessel M.V. ‘Barzan’ is first in a new class of leading ultra-large container vessels that will be the largest in UASC’s fleet to date and will set new standards for fuel and energy efficiency, due to optimized vessel design and an array of propulsion and equipment efficiency technologies. Preliminary calculations indicate an EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) value that is close to 50% below the 2025 limit set by IMO. UASC is working to establish a range of additional metrics and targets through which the efficiency of UASC’s vessels can be managed to drive further reduction in carbon emissions across all UASC vessels.

Continue reading “World’s most environmentally friendly ultra large container vessel named by UASC”