NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (NBP) has signed the contract with Nanjing Jinling Shipyard Co. Ltd., which is part of the China Merchants Group, to build two next-generation energy-saving heavy-lift vessels.

These ships will have the below features to meet a wide variety of cargo transportation needs.

・Each vessel will be equipped with two 400-ton cranes; cargo up to 800 tons will be able to be loaded through tandem operation.

・ Each vessel will have one hatch and one hold, and the hold shape will be an open-hatch type, making the vessels very efficient for cargo handling and reducing cargo damage.

・The on-deck length will be about 110 meters, and the in-hold length will be about 95 meters at a maximum. Therefore, long-length cargo such as wind-power blades will be able to be loaded on deck or in the hold.

・The vessels will be hatch coverless, which will allow for navigation with the hatch cover open. The bridge is placed at the ship front, so loading tall and large cargo can be performed without worry of any disruption to forward visibility during navigation.

・The tween deck will be the adjustable/removable type that can be changed to two levels, depending on the cargo loaded.

・To accommodate bulk cargo, the tween deck will be able to used as a simple bulkhead standing in the hold.

Maximum consideration is also being given to the environment (see below) in the construction and operation of this next-generation energy-saving heavy-lift vessel.

・With the cooperation of Japanese marine equipment manufacturers, a significant reduction in fuel consumption has been achieved compared to existing ships of the same type.

・The vessels meet EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) Phase 3 requirements that will become effective in 2025, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions in advance.

The heavy cargo ship market has been sluggish since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, but due to the recent increase in environmental awareness, the cargo movements of wind-power plants and LNG plants have become active, and these ships are expected to meet market needs. We will maintain and accumulate the technical know-how of heavy-lift vessels by owning and operating these vessels, and as the only heavy shipping company in Japan, we will respond to the needs of plant cargo customers.

＜Ship Specifications＞

・Length O.A.: about 138.00 m

・Breadth MLD.: about 23.60 m

・Depth MLD.: about 8.30 m

・Deadweight: about 12,470 t

・Cranes: 800 mt (400 mt x 2)

・Flag: Panama

・Delivery: Approximately Aug 2021 and Jan 2022