Tsuji Heavy Cuts Steel for World’s First LNG-powered Cargo Vessel

Tsuji Heavy Industries Jiangsu shipyard, on August 28th, started the construction works on one of the world’s first LNG-powered sea-going cargo vessel.

The two Rolls-Royce NVC 405 cargo vessels will be built at the Tsuji’s Jiangsu shipyard in China. The vessels will enter service from October 2013, operating along the West Coast of Norway.

Rolls-Royce designed, Environship concept is award-winning, highly efficient ship that incorporates a striking wave piercing bow, world leading gas powered engines and an innovative Promas propulsion system.

The Environship concept increases fuel efficiency by up to 18 per cent and provides numerous environmental benefits, including the virtual elimination of SOx and reduction of CO2 emissions by more than 40 per cent compared to similar conventional vessels.

Key facts about the Environship

The Rolls-Royce Environship concept, received the prestigious Next Generation Ship Award at this year’s NorShipping event in Oslo, Norway.

The Rolls-Royce Bergen B-Series lean burn gas engines, as used in the Environship, emit around 17 per cent less CO2 (per unit of power) than a diesel engine.

The use of gas fuelled engines means that Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions are reduced by about 90 per cent while Sulphur Oxide (SOx) emissions are negligible.

These emissions are already within the limits of IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Tier III environmental legislation, due to come into force in 2016.

The Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion system is an integrated rudder and propeller, which alone improves efficiency of the vessel by 5 to 8 per cent.

The new innovative bow shape and hull form, designed by Rolls-Royce, also reduce resistance by up to 8 per cent, therefore reducing fuel burn and emissions further.

The vertical bow shape enables the vessel to maintain speed even in rough seas enabling operators to achieve demanding shipping schedules without the need to burn additional fuel to make up lost time.

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World Maritime News, August 31, 2012; Image: tsuji