Japanese delivery firm Mitsui O.S.Ok. Lines has revealed the hull design for its next-generation automotive service with a rounded bow mentioned to scale back wind resistance and lower emissions.

MOL has 4 of the so-called FLEXIE carriers on order at Usuki City-headquartered Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co. with supply slated for 2017 and 2018. The vessels will function a rounded bow form will reduce wind resistance and is anticipated to scale back CO2 emissions by about 2% in comparison with right this moment’s automotive carriers.

The bow was developed as by way of a joint analysis challenge by MOL, MOL Techno-Trade, and Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen).

In addition to the optimized bow, MOL says the automotive carriers will function deck building that can be altered to permit 14 decks, up from 12. The variety of liftable decks can even be elevated from two to 6. MOL says which means that two adjustable decks will be positioned between two mounted decks, providing higher flexibility in accommodating autos of various heights, bettering loading effectivity and assembly demand for extra diversified automobile transport.

The 4 vessels can even be put in with electronically-controlled diesel engine with Low Load Optimisation (LLO) tuning by Exhaust Gas Bypass (EGB) expertise, a waste warmth power restoration system for generator engines and electrical energy consumption discount expertise. The vessels’ hull kind design can even be improved, particularly for low-speed vary, based mostly on ship efficiency evaluation of present carriers.

The 4 newbuilds will measure 199.95 lengthy by 32.2 breadth, and have capability for six,800 customary passenger autos.

MOL has been experimenting with wind pressure-reducing designs because the improvement of the MV Courageous Ace, a pure automotive service launched in 2003 that includes a patented bow design that’s aerodynamically rounded and bevelled alongside the bow line to assist scale back strain from headwinds. Through 2006 the corporate had launched 17 automotive carriers with the design.

In 2015, the corporate additionally started experimenting with an energy-saving windshield put in on the containership MOL Marvel. The windshield is a horseshoe-shaped design that encloses the entrance line stacked containers to maximise the wind resistance-reducing impact whereas minimizing the burden of the primary unit. MOL hoped to reveal an annual common discount of two% in CO2 emissions, assuming the gadget is mounted on a 6,700 TEU containership plying the North Pacific Ocean route at velocity of 17 knots.

Not solely has MOL been experimenting with wind pressure-reducing applied sciences, but additionally with wind propulsion with its “Power Assist Sail”, a prototype crusing rig that MOL hopes may scale back CO2 emissions by as a lot as 2-5% for present vessels.