Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has delivered a dual-fuel VLCC ‘Asian Progress VII’ to Aramo Shipping (Singapore) and ‘Lucent Pathfinder’, an 86,700m3 LPG-fuelled ammonia and LPG carrier to Tsurugi Maritima.
Asian Progress VII was built at the Dalian Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (Dacks) shipyard, in Dalian, China, operated jointly with China Cosco Shipping, and is the second LNG-fuelled VLCC built by Kawasaki Group. The design replaces the conventional bulbous bow with a newly designed bow form that extends the vessel’s length at the waterline, reducing wave-making resistance from bow waves during navigation, enabling greater propulsive performance. The use of a low-speed, ultra-long-stroke MAN B&W 7G80ME main engine together with a high-efficiency, large-diameter propeller provides low fuel consumption. The main engine is compatible with both LNG and LSFO fuels, and complies with EEDI Phase3. With the installation of SOx scrubbers at the exhaust gas outlets of both main engine and auxiliary engines, the vessel meets current SOx emission regulations, with fuel costs reduced since conventional HFO is still compatible.
With an increased cargo capacity compared with the existing 84,000m3 LPG carriers as well as ammonia loading capability, the Lucent Pathfinder is the 11th of Kawasaki’s 86,700 m3 capacity, LPG-fuelled LPG/NH3 carriers. Kawasaki has completed 18 LPG-fuelled vessels to date, and the Lucent Pathfinder is its 81st LPG carrier in total.
With separate cargo tanks, the ship is capable of simultaneously transporting LPG, which is already in widespread use as a low-carbon-emission energy source, and ammonia, which may expect to serve as a useful new fuel. It is designed with increased cargo tank capacity while keeping its principal dimensions like LOA and beam similar to conventional-type vessels so that the carrier can be berthed at major LPG terminals worldwide.
Image: VLCC ‘Asian Progress VII’ (source: Kawasaki Heavy Industries)
