SOUTH KOREA: The world's first LNG-ready ultra-large container ship has been named MV Sajir in South Korea by the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) today. The 15,000teu Sajir will be operated on routes from Asia to Northern Europe after delivery later in 2015.
LNG-ready means the vessel has been built with double wall gas piping, a dual-fuel main engine and the space needed for later retrofitting of tanks and regasification equipment so the ship can burn LNG in addition to heavy fuel oil or marine gas oil.
Sajir will be joined by a further 16 ultra large containerships, 10 of the A15 class (15,000teu) and six larger ones of 18,800teu, all to be delivered to UASC from Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries by mid-2016.
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USAC says the DNV GL classed vessel Safir "is the largest and most eco-efficient vessel in this capacity range. Preliminary calculations indicate an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) value that is close to 50% below the 2025 limit established by the IMO." The A15 vessels go beyond what regulations require and set new standards in terms of efficient, safe, and sustainable operations," said Jorn Hinge, President and Chief Executive Officer of UASC.
"UASC is proud of its Middle Eastern heritage and the Sajir takes its name from an area in Saudi Arabia that is known for its luscious landscape and farming heritage. We hope the "Sajir" personifies her namesake in many ways, with a long and fruitful career and full cargo holds," said H.E. Salem Ali Al Zaabi, Chairman of UASC, at the naming ceremony.
The CO2 output/teu for this new A15 vessel class will be 22% less than for a 13,500teu containership delivered only two years ago says USAC. The company also said: "The environmental credentials of the A15 class are further highlighted by the fact that these vessels are designed and prepared for a quick and cost-efficient LNG retrofit at a later stage."
In an industry first, DNV GL has given an Approval in Principle to the concept of preparing vessels for later conversion to LNG.
The vessels will further receive DNV GL's CLEAN class notation, which documents that the new generation ships comply with environmental regulations beyond today's normal IMO, flag, and class standards. They will also be provided with an Inventory of Hazardous Materials, which is not yet a mandatory requirement, and they are one of the first to receive an Energy Efficiency Certificate with documented EEDI reports USAC.
The A15 vessels are equipped with an approved ballast water treatment systems and a shore-to-ship power supply equipment to enable zero emissions at berth, which gains the ships a further 'Shore Power' class notation.
The fatigue strength of the hull structure is based on an assumption of 25 years of North Atlantic operations - far beyond the normal. A15 vessels will be equipped with a DNV GL approved hull stress monitoring system to provide guidance to the crew on current stress level in the ship structure during operation.