Keppel AmFELS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) in the United States (US), has secured a contract worth more than USD 400m from Honolulu-based Pasha Hawaii for the construction of two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fueled containerships.
The dual-fuel LNG vessels will be built to Keppel’s proprietary design with delivery of the first vessel expected in 1Q 2020, and the second vessel in 3Q 2020.
Mr Simon Lee, President of Keppel AmFELS said, “We are pleased that Pasha has chosen us to build their first two LNG fueled containerships to our innovative design. Keppel O&M is at the forefront of designing vessels that run on LNG propulsion systems and has the experience in LNG vessel conversions as well as the expertise in newbuild specialised vessels.”
“This contract with Keppel allows Pasha Hawaii to continue to move forward in our commitment to providing the best resources possible for our customers and Hawaii’s shipping industry, while minimising our environmental footprint,” said George Pasha, IV, President and CEO of The Pasha Group.
Customised to Pasha Hawaii’s requirements, the new, 774-foot Jones Act vessels will be able to carry 2,525 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), including a fully laden capacity of 500 45-foot containers, 400 refrigerated containers, and 300 40-foot dry containers, with a sailing speed of 23 knots. The ship’s hull has been fully optimised using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and will be one of the most hydrodynamically efficient hulls in the world.
LNG Fuel
The containerships will be able to run completely on LNG fuel, dramatically reducing their environmental impact and increasing fuel efficiency. Energy savings will also be achieved with a state-of-the-art engine, an optimised hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller.
When compared to conventional fuels, LNG is a much cleaner alternative fuel for shipping and offers significant environmental benefits, including the reduction of up to 95 percent sulphur oxides, nearly 100 percent particulate matter, up to 90 percent nitrogen oxides, and up to 25 percent carbon dioxide emissions from engine exhaust emissions.
Keppel AmFELS points out that the average age of the US-built fleet of vessels is more than 30 years old, beyond the typical operating life of most ocean-going vessels, and new vessels will be needed to meet the latest safety and environmental standards.
Source: Keppel O&M
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