Nantong Mingde Heavy has delivered the first 31,200 DWT Equinox Class Gearless Bulk Carrier, named Algoma Equinox, to a leading Canadian shipping company Algoma Central Corporation.
The Equinox Class, specially designed to optimize fuel efficiency and operating performance thus minimizing environmental impact, represents the next generation of Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Waterway bulkers. A 45% improvement in energy efficiency over Algoma’s current fleet average is predicted with the use of a modern Tier II compliant engine and a fully integrated IMO approved exhaust gas scrubber that will remove 97% of all sulphur oxides from shipboard emissions. The use of exhaust gas scrubbers represents the first application of an IMO approved integrated scrubber on a Great Lakes – St. Lawrence vessel class.
These new vessels, which will carry a variety of cargoes that North American industry depends upon, including grain, iron ore, coal, construction materials and salt, are equipped with the latest technology to make them significantly more efficient and environmentally-friendly than any existing vessels.
Algoma Equinox has a length of 225.55m, breadth moulded of 23.77m, depth moulded of 14.7m, scantling draught moulded of 9.5m, along with five cargo tanks with 31,200DWT cargo capacity. The classification is provided by the Lloyd’s Register.
The Algoma Equinox is expected to commence operations in Canada during the 2013 navigation season. It will be followed by the delivery of the other seven Equinox Class vessels at approximately three-month intervals through the remainder of 2013 and in 2014.
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Nantong Mingde Heavy, September 30, 2013