Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), through its vehicle transport business unit MOL Auto Carrier Express, has taken delivery of a new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) built locally by Imabari Shipbuilding.
The NK-classed Tourmaline Ace is notable for its LNG propulsion system, which was selected by MOL for its ability to generate significantly reduced emissions of CO2 (25 to 30 per cent), NOx (85 per cent), and SOx (98 per cent) compared to engines powered by conventional fuel oil.
The PCTC belongs to a new series of MOL ships with environment-friendly features. These ships are to be delivered by Imabari Shipbuilding and other local yards as part of MOL’s fleet upgrade program, the objective of which is to introduce around 90 locally-built vessels powered by either LNG or methanol by the end of the current decade.
The series includes Turquoise Ace, which was built by Imabari Shipbuilding, and Cerulean Ace and Celeste Ace, which were built by Shin Kurushima Dockyard.
The newbuild has an LOA of 199.93 metres, a moulded beam of 38 metres, a depth of 22.8 metres, and space for 7,033 CEUs. The hull boasts improved aerodynamic behaviour, thanks to a bow with a beveled top that can help reduce wind resistance by as much as 20 per cent.
The beam of the vessel itself is approximately six metres (20 feet) greater than on earlier MOL PCTCs to permit the carriage of up to 600 additional vehicles while maintaining the same hull length.