UASC Mega-Boxships Designed for Fast LNG Retrofit

The ships will use IHI tanks

United Arab Shipping Co. (UASC) says it is working with Japan Marine United Corp. (JMU) and IHI Corp. (IHI) on the designs for its huge new new "LNG-ready" containerships.

The "super-efficient vessels," five 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) ships with six options and five 18,000 TEU ships with one option, will be prepared for a LNG Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS) retrofit after delivery, which will allow them to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"The newbuilding vessels are designed to be constructed in such a way that LNG fuel tanks and the FGSS can be installed in a matter of weeks once the infrastructure is in place to enable LNG supplies in major ports of call for container vessels," UASC said.

"The capability of being retro-fitted for LNG ensures that UASC vessels continue to remain the most advanced and environmentally-friendly ultra-large container vessels globally for many years to come."

The ships will also have optimised hull forms, waste heat recovery systems, and other fuel-saving devices.

UASC said it is the first international long-haul container line owner/operator to plan LNG-ready newbuildings.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), which is building the vessesl, is working with JMU on the tank and FGSS design, and IHI will supply the tank.

"The selected low pressure IHI-SPB Tank is unique and the volume of fuel that can be stored onboard is by far the greatest of any LNG-powered vessel to date," UASC said.

HHI is finalizing the designs in cooperation with JMU and class society DNV-GL, with deliveries scheduled between 2014 and 2016.

DNV said in September that the ships will be "some of the world's largest and greenest container ships."