Mitsubishi bulk carrier ship could help reduce carbon emissions

MHI will encorporate its design into three grain carriers that will be built for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) of the US. The ships are going to be built by Oshima Shipbuilding in Nagasaki, Japan.

The bulk carrier design adopts the company’s Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS,) which is claimed to reduce frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater using air bubbles produced by blowers at the vessel bottom.

The three grain carriers are also reported to feature a newly shaped bow that will reduce wave-making resistances. For propulsion, the ship is said to adopt a system that effectively converts the main engine power into propulsion power by positioning fins forward of the propellers and placing particular grooves in the propeller boss cap.

The three grain carriers will be 95,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) vessels that will measure 237m in length, 40m in width and 12.5m in designed draught.

MHI has pledged to continue developing ships that address CO₂ reduction and has plans to focus on its ‘Eco-ship’, and sales expansion of related systems and equipment.