NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, an NYK Group company, has signed the contract with Nanjing Jinling Shipyard for the construction of two next-generation heavy-lift vessels.
NYK said on Monday that each vessel would be equipped with two 400-ton cranes so that cargo up to 800 tons could be loaded through a tandem operation.
The vessels, scheduled for delivery in August 2021 and January 2022, will have one hatch and one open-hatch hold. The on-deck length will be about 110 meters, and the in-hold length will be about 95 meters at a maximum.
Therefore, long-length cargo will be able to be loaded on the deck or in the hold. To accommodate bulk cargo, the tween deck will be able to use as a simple bulkhead standing in the hold.
The vessels will be hatch coverless, which will allow for navigation with the hatch cover open. The tween deck will be the adjustable/removable type that can be changed to two levels, depending on the cargo loaded.
The bridge will be placed forward, so loading tall and large cargo can be performed without impacting forward visibility during navigation.
It is worth noting that the vessels will meet the Energy Efficiency Design Index Phase 3 requirements that will become effective in 2025.
According to NYK, the heavy cargo ship market has been sluggish since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, but NBP stated that demand for cargo movements for wind farms and LNG plants increased.
“These ships are expected to meet market needs. We will maintain and accumulate the technical know-how of heavy-lift vessels by owning and operating these vessels, and as the only heavy shipping company in Japan, we will respond to the needs of plant cargo customers,” NYK stated.