“Green Corridor” joint industry project (JIP) partners have presented an LNG-fuelled Newcastlemax design which is in the process of receiving Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV GL.
At the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo today, project partners BHP, Fortescue, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Rio Tinto, SDARI, U-Ming, Woodside, and DNV GL said that the stage one of the JIP has demonstrated the commercial potential and technical feasibility of LNG-fuelled bulkers in a “green corridor” iron ore and coal trade between Australia and China.
The new Newcastlemax design developed in the “Green Corridor” JIP has been developed to a stage where it is ready to serve as the outline specification for newbuilding orders in 2017.
Vessels would feature a length of 300 meters, a breadth of 50 meters and a deadweight at scantling draught of 210,000 tons.
“This JIP has shown that by bringing together partners from across the industry to investigate alternative compliance options that account for market and trade route characteristics…we can arrive at unique solutions that fulfil owners and operators’ requirements, as well as being in full compliance with international rules and regulations,” Morten Løvstad, DNV GL – Maritime Business Director Bulk Carriers, said.
“By having both charterers and ship owners as active partners in the JIP, we are also optimistic that this new design will materialize into firm orders in the near future,” Løvstad added.