Far East Huarun Dadong completes LNG conversion During early June, the 15,000 teu containership Brussels Express sailed into its home port of Hamburg for the first time. It is the first large containership in the world to have been converted to LNG propulsion. In September 2020, when she was still named the Sajir, the ship arrived in China’s Huarun Dadong Dockyard, Shanghai. There, all the preparations had already been made to have a floating crane hoist the 1,300-tonne LNG tank into the belly of the ship as well as to carry out other work related to the conversion. “The fact that a retrofitting of this scale had never been done before meant that we faced numerous challenges – from the planning to the implementation. We have broken new ground with the conversion, and we will now be testing it very precisely in real-world operation,” says Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-Lloyd. “Fossil LNG is currently the most promising fuel on the path towards zero emissions. The medium-term goal is to have CO2-neutral shipping operations using synthetic natural gas (SNG).” In a nod to the European Green Deal, Hapag-Lloyd has renamed the ship the Brussels Express. In addition, the phrase ‘Shipping for a cleaner future!’ adorns the breakwater on the forecastle. The ship is not yet operating exclusively with LNG, as the final guarantee works will be performed at the end of this round voyage. The first complete LNG bunkering will then take place in Singapore on the next round voyage. In the future, the ship, which is currently operating in the Far East 4 service between Asia and North Europe, will bunker twice/round voyage - in Singapore and in Rotterdam. The international client base of ships repairing at this shipyard has been seen recently with a number of ships from the Norwegian market – the 72,562 dwt 2001-built cabu carrier Barcarena, owned by Norway’s Klaveness Combination Carriers and managed by Klaveness Shipmanagement, Oslo (Cabu Carriers transport caustic soda solutions, floating fertiliser, molasses and all types of dry bulk cargo), the 229,456 dwt 2011-built VLCC SKS Donggang, owned by Norway’s SKS Tankers (KGJ OBO & Tankers Management), The Brussels Express arrives in Hamburg
The Brussels Express arrives in Hamburg
Bergen, and the 56,164 dwt 1995-built 6,500 ceu capacity PCTC Hoegh Trooper, owned by Norway’s Hoegh Autoliners and managed by Hoegh Fleet Services, Oslo. Japan is another successful market for Huarun Dadong – recent drydockings have included the 38,046 dwt 2013-built bulk carrier Locomotion, owned by Marine Ace, Tokyo and managed by Hong Kong’s Far East Shipmanagement, the 71,283 dwt 2006-built 5,642 teu capacity containership RDO Endeavour, owned by Shunzan Kaiun, Imabari, and the 10,005 dwt 1999-built 855 teu capacity containership Resolution, owned by Kotuku Kaiun, Imabari. The German market is also a regular user of this yard’s facilities – recent visitors include the 21,773 dwt 2013-built 1,700 teu capacity containership Oceana, owned by Oceana Schiffahrt and managed by Buss Schiffahrt, Hamburg, the 56,859 dwt 2011-built bulk carrier Alrayan, owned by Transeste Schiffahrt, Jork, and the 146,114 dwt 2011-built 12,600 teu capacity containership CMA CGM Alaska, owned by Offen Reederei, Hamburg. Other international visitors have included the 60,475 dwt built 2016 bulk carrier IVS North Berwick , owned by the UK’s Grindrod Shipping, London, the 33,402 dwt 2011-built general cargo vessel AAL Jupiter, owned by Singapore’s AAL Shipping and the 66,818 dwt 2000-built 4,843 teu capacity containership Wan Hai 529, owned by Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines Ltd, Taipei.
renamed Charming. The 77,500 gt 1998-built vessel has been bought by Sanyo International Cruises and will operate for its brand Forsee Cruise from May this year. The vessel is being managed by Monaco’s V.Ships Leisure. Recently undergoing conversion to LPG power at this leading Chinese yard was the first of three LPG tankers owned by Singapore-based BW LPG – the 84,000 m3 capacity sisterships BW Balder, BW Var and BW Volans, all built in 2016, to be converted this year (2021). These three ships follow the successful completion of a similar conversion, involving the BW Gemini, during 2020. During December 2020, BW LPG announced that a further three LPG tankers were to be converted during 2021 – each ship’s main propulsion system - MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 type engines to be replaced by MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP dual-fuel types, capable of operating on fuel oil and LPG. Meanwhile, a total of 15 vessels were undergoing repair at China’s Yiu Lian Dockyard’s Mazhou Island facility during midJune, including: • Eugen Maersk – 174,239 dwt 2008-built 11,000 teu capacity containership, owned by Denmark’s Maersk Line, Copenhagen • BW Confidence – 81,605 m3 capacity 2006-built LPG tanker, owned by Norway’s BW Gas, Oslo • London Spirit – 155,510 dwt 2011-built tanker, owned by US operator Principal Marine Management, Southport, CT • FPMC C Noble – 297,258 dwt 2012-built tanker, owned by Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Marine, Taipei • Navig8 Turquoise – 49,676 dwt 2016-built chemical tanker, owned by Denmark’s Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc, Hellerup • Unikum Spirit – 11,782 m3 capacity 2011-built LNG tanker, owned by Singapore’s Norgas Carriers • Sea Victoria – 324,268 dwt
Cruiseship and LPG tanker repairs Yiu Lian The former Princess Cruises-owned Sea Princess recently sailed from China’s Yiu Lian Dockyard, Shekou, after completing drydocking and repairs for her new Chinese owners – she has been
Yiu Lian Dockyard will convert three LPG tankers this year
Volume 19 Issue 2 – Page 51
