Tsuneishi Group Completes Construction of Newly Developed Bulk Carrier at Shipyard in China

 

On Friday, April 8th Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. completed construction of its first ship “GL XIUSHAN,” which is a newly developed bulk carrier series with a 98,000 ton capacity, “TESS98”, at one of the overseas group companies, Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc.

The “TESS98” is a bulk carrier series with a 98,000 ton capacity, the latest model in our “TESS”*1 series, developed as a post-PANAMAX bulker in 2008. The total length of “TESS98” was set to 240 meters to increase loading capacity, although most ships of the former type have about a 90,000 ton capacity and a length of about 235 meters. Although the length was increased and loading capacity expanded to nearly 100,000 tons, the size still allows the ships to enter major Japanese ports for coal transportation. Reflecting owners needs, this ship model attains broad utility and great usability by increasing the ship body’s strength, so that even high density material such as iron ore can be loaded into alternating cargo holds.*2 This ship model can satisfy the expanding need for transport of coal and iron ore to developing countries where power demand and crude steel production are rising, such as China and India, as well as transporting coals to domestic power plants. In addition, this model introduces a specially shaped bow which reduces wave resistance for efficient navigation even in rough weather, and specially shaped crew’s quarter which reduces air resistance, developed with Hiroshima University. With these innovations, power efficiency has been improved with daily fuel consumption of about 44.4 tons.

Also, “TESS98”enhances transportation efficiency and environmental functions, focusing on ballast water*3. The first is the introduction of ballast water treatment equipment to protect biodiversity. This equipment drains water after killing microbes living in ocean water, reducing impact to ecosystems where ballast water containing microbes is drained. Recently this has become an international issue, and a new international rule*4 on ballast water quality is under consideration by the International Maritime Organization. With an eye on this development, “TESS98” includes standard ballast water treatment equipment in advance of this ruling, and “GL XIUSHAN” is equipped with this ballast water treatment equipment made by the Korean company, Techcross Inc.

The second is the introduction of an automatic ballast water drain monitoring system (ADS). Ballast tanks typically have only one pipe to remove ballast water. But this system includes an additional small diameter pipe. When the water in the tank drops to a certain level, a warning alerts the crew, and by switching to the small diameter pipe lower level water can be drained. Compared to the former model, the water remaining after draining can be reduced by about 240 tons, allowing the same weight of additional cargo can be loaded. Also, by enhancing the drain pump performance and using the small diameter pipe at the same time, ballast water can be drain within 10 hours. This feature reduces stay time at port and contributes to overall improvements in transportation efficiency.

Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc. (TZS), which built the first TESS98 series ship, is a shipbuilding company in China established by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Company in 2003. At first, TZS started production of blocks for large vessels for Tsuneishi Factory. In 2007, it started building its first ship and in November 2010, it had completed 50 ships in total since the company establishment. The company’s shipbuilding efforts are progressing smoothly.

1 – Named using the initial letters of “Tsuneishi Economical Standard Ship.” In 1984, the first series TESS40 (40,000 ton bulk carrier) was completed. After that, this series deployed to TESS45, TESS52, and TESS58, and the 200th ship of the Handymax series was completed in 2007.

2 – The transportation method that uses only odd numbered holds of 7 cargo holds for iron ore transportation in order to enable stable navigation without exceeding the draft limit.

3 – Ballast water is seawater which is loaded inside special tanks at the bottom of the ship, in order to maintain ship balance during navigation without loads. Prior to or during cargo loading, this water is drained.

4 – The new regulation, “International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments,” regarding ballast water quality and microbes in ballast water, was adopted in February 2004, and is now expected to be issued.

Major Characteristics of TESS98 “GL XIUSHAN

Type: Deadweight: about 98,000mt bulk carrier

Name: GL XIUSHAN

Length×Breadth×Depth: About 236m x 38m x 19.95m

Deadweight: 98,681 mt

Gross tonnage: 52,186 tons

Main engine: Mitsui MAN B&W Diesel 6S60MC-C (Mark7)

Horse power: Consecutive max. output: 12,700 kw x 99 revolution/min.

Service speed: 15 knots

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Source: Tsuneishi, April 21, 2011.