Japan: MOL Announces Order of New High-Efficiency Iron Ore Carrier

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that it has ordered a new cape-size bulker that will adopt element technologies of the next-generation ISHIN-III vessel program to achieve high fuel efficiency. Universal Shipbuilding Corporation will construct the new ship, slated for completion in late 2014.

MOL has repeatedly studied various technologies to realize the concept for the ISHIN-III series of next-generation vessels (large-scale iron ore carriers) announced in April 2010.

The newbuilding vessel will adopt the following element technologies which are at the core of the ISHIN-III concept. New technologies will boost fuel efficiency of the new ship by more than 20% compared to conventional cape-size vessels, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. Advanced features include:

• A steam turbine that generates electric power using exhaust heat from the engine.
• A hybrid power generation system to convert rotational force from the supercharger into electric power.
• In addition, the electric power gained through the steam turbine and hybrid systems will assist vessel propulsion.

MOL continues to take a proactive stance in technological development with the aim of reducing the environmental burden of its ships.