GERMAN container
shipping line Hapag-Lloyd
plans to refit 24 of its biggest vessels by the end of the year with bulbous
bows that have been optimised taking into account factors including the
ship's area of operation, cruising speed and cargo volume.
The vessels
to be refitted with the bows at two shipyards in Shanghai are ships in the 13,200-TEU
Hamburg Express class, as well as the 8,750-TEU Colombo, Prague and
Vienna Express, reported the UK's Motorship journal.
On the
Hamburg Express vessels, optimised propellers will also be installed given
their reduced operating speed of 16-18 knots compared to a design speed
of 25
knots.
The new
propellers are bigger than the original parts, at 9.20 metres in diameter,
and 11
tonnes lighter. They also sport five blades instead of four.
"The new
speed profile allows for further optimisation of the propeller in terms of
weight and efficiency, thereby increasing the overall effect," said ship
management director Richard von Berlepsch.
The
Hapag-Lloyd expects these measures will lead to 10 per cent fuel savings for
the 13,200-TEU ships alone. "It is conceivable, therefore, that these
measures will be extended to other ships in the future," the company said.
Source :
HKSG.
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