Asia/Pacific News
Diesel-electric MPSV "Cleaner, Greener" Option
Malaysia got its first diesel-electric multi-purpose platform supply vessel (MPSV) with Nam Cheong Dockyard Sdn Bhd's launch of the NC800, national news agency Bernama reports.
The ship, called Armada Tuah 300, was designed by Finland's Wartsila, and is commissioned by Bumi Armada Bhd.
The vessel, which will be used for chemical fluid transportation, safety and standby support, oil spill control, and general supplies, has a remote-operated vehicle mezzanine deck, a 20 tonne capacity crane, space for 42 personnel, and a 800 square meter deck.
Speaking at the official launch of the new vessel, Bumi Armada chief financial officer Rezza Hassan said the diesel-electric engine offers a variety of benefits for the company, local English-language paper the Borneo Post reports.
"Being green means looking for fuel efficient technologies, operational efficiency as well as reducing our environmental emissions and carbon footprint.
"The benefits of diesel-electric engines are lower fuel consumption and noxious emissions, high reliability due to multiple engine redundancy and reduced life cycle costs which result from lower operation and maintenance costs.
"In some cases, there are additional benefits of low propulsion noise and reduced vibrations.
"In a nutshell, it's a cleaner, greener and environmentally- friendlier option."
Nam Cheong CEO Datuk Tiong Su Kouk said the shipbuilding and repairing industry contributed RM7.05 billion to the nation's economy in 2011 and employed 30,000 people.
He said Nam Cheong has benefited from global growth and major investments in oil and gas projects in the region.
"This year has seen the most number of vessels sold in a single year, setting a new record for our Group's corporate history," he said.
