Lloyd’s Register has given approval in principle (AIP) to a new ‘Clean Sky’ bulk carrier design featuring a gas-powered propulsion system drawn up by Chinese shipbuilder COSCO and Piraeus, Greece-headquartered shipowner Golden Union.
The initial design focus has been on a 290m, 81,000dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier that would offer shipowners the flexibility to choose dual- or tri-fuel engines able to burn heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel or LNG. The LNG would be carried in a single 1,160m3 capacity type ‘C’ tank that would be installed on the aft deck. Lloyd’s said that, to date, LNG-as-fuel research, technology development and newbuilding activities have focused on specific niche sectors, such as ferries, offshore vessels and short sea or inland trades, but that the Clean Sky project paves the way for LNG take-up in the deep-sea dry bulk and liquid trades. JS
