LR, Cargill and partners to develop methanol and rotor sail ready bulker design
- Published
by Admin
Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Monday (2 October) said it has collaborated with Cargill International, Minerva Dry Inc. and Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co Ltd (NACKS) on the design of a Kamsarmax bulk carrier with methanol and rotor sail capability as the result of a Joint Development Project (JDP) established in 2022.
The design will provide a new energy efficient bulk carrier at a time when ship owners and operators must consider their environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies in line with new and upcoming environmental regulations which mandate the limiting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The JDP included input on user requirements from one of the largest dry bulk operators, Cargill, and brings together the operational experience of ship owner Minerva Dry with the design expertise of leading Chinese shipyard NACKS. LR acted as a trusted adviser throughout the joint development project as the sole classification society for the design of this unique vessel.
Nikos Kakalis, Global Bulk Carriers Segment Director, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Lloyd’s Register is proud to have collaborated on this JDP with Cargill, Minerva Dry and NACKS to design an energy efficient and future fuel ready Kamsarmax bulk carrier, bringing innovation to practice.”
“And it is absolutely vital that stakeholders across the maritime value chain continue to work together to provide commercially viable bulk carriers to meet the sector’s demands whilst prioritising designs that comply with tightening GHG emission regulations, as evidenced by this JDP.”
Chris Hughes, Decarbonisation Specialist, Cargill International, said: “It’s been great to work closely with NACKS, Minerva Dry and LR on this project; they all brought a lot of knowledge and experience to the project; plus a willingness to challenge the status quo, and to consider new ideas and technologies. Rather than starting with a conventional fuelled design and adding on some limited “readiness” we essentially designed a methanol fuelled ship first, and worked backwards from there for the methanol-ready version. The result is a design that is truly ready and feasible for conversion”.
Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 5 October, 2023
