China: Sinopacific Shipbuilding Completes Sea Trials for CROWN 63 Bulk Carrier

Sinopacific’s DY4001, the lead ship of CROWN 63 – 63,500 DWT bulk carrier which had successfully completed all sea trial items began to make her return voyage on February 17th.

It is an incontrovertible triumph. The vessel’s speed trial has been proved to be beyond design prediction and perfectly meet all the guarantee items specified in contract for delivery. Since DY4001 began sea trial on February 11, Dayang Shipyard’s Marine Dept., Outfit Dept. and Sinopacific Group Design have been implementing integrated plan in close cooperation with SETAF (ship owner) and Bureau Veritas (BV) to push forward the predefined procedures for inspection and delivery.

Compared to CROWN 58 – 58,000 bulk carrier, CROWN 63 increases deadweight by 9% and reduces fuel consumption by 13% at the same service speed. Mr. Jean LABESCAT, Technology General Manager of SETAF was satisfied with the outcomes of the sea trial. “DY4001 features outstanding performance and its design gives consideration to the owner’s operating benefits.” Mr. LABESCAT said. “CROWN 63 is with special advantage in the bulk carrier sector and we are looking forward to the next delivery.”

DY4001 will be delivered at the end of this February after which her sister vessels will be in succession. As the key product of Dayang Shipyard of Sinopacific Group, CROWN 63 series are expected to witness their delivery peak and 22 vessels have been planned for delivery in 2012.

Based on CROWN 58, CROWN 63 has optimized its body lines and improved the design for bulbous bow, propeller and rudder bulb. This helps accomplish optimal combination in various critical elements and then improve propulsion efficiency. By adopting low-sulphur fuel system, the vessel’s SOx emission has been reduced, which contributes a lot to environmental protection. In addition, on this vessel, interface and space are reserved for the retrofit of ballast water treatment system, if any.

According to Mr. Chen Jingwei, Deputy General Manager of GreenSeas Marine Technology of Sinopacific Group, who witnessed this sea trial, CROWN 63 experienced one-year initial design optimization and went through up to 5 times tank tests in HSVA (The Hamburg Ship Model Basin, Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt GmbH）, reaching advanced international level.

CROWN 63 adopts low-speed two-stroke electronic injection diesel engine from Doosan Engine. Its electronic injection system provides higher precision in fuel injection, features sufficient combustion and long working time, which turns out to be efficient in reducing the fuel consumption as well as NOx emission.

Given the special contribution CROWN 63 makes to carbon emission reduction, BV decided to issue Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for the lead ship of CROWN 63, which is also BV’s first EEDI certificate in Asia. Meanwhile, the Green Passport certificate will be issued for this vessel (DY4001) by BV as well.

Faced with the gloomy winter of the shipbuilding market and increasingly higher technical barriers today, it can be asserted that the successful design of CROWN 63 brings mutual benefits for owner and shipbuilder. It also proclaimed that Sinopacific Group exhibits first-class strategic insight, first-class design capacity and first-class manufacturing strength.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, February 21, 2012; Images: sinopacificshipbuilding