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FLEX THOSE SPECS TANKERS • STENA BULK HAS THROWN EVERY TECHNICAL INNOVATION IT CAN FIND AT ITS LATEST CHEMICAL TANKER CONCEPT, AIMING TO CUT EMISSIONS BY ANOTHER 25 PER CENT STENA BULK HAS revealed its latest design concept for its next generation of product/ chemical tankers. Moving on from the IMOIIMax concept, the new IMOFlexMax will, Stena says, “lead the way towards a sustainable future as one of the most energy-efficient product and chemical tankers on the market”. “The world’s need for reliable, innovative and sustainable transportation of liquid products is increasing and it will continue to do so as the world’s population grows and global living standards continue to improve,” says Erik Hånell, president/CEO of Stena Bulk. The new concept, which can be built today with existing and proven technology and other solutions, represents Stena Bulk’s contribution to bringing shipping into compliance with the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainability and Development Goals. The new design was developed by sister company Stena Teknik and is based on 40 years of tanker shipping experience. The most obvious addition compared to existing vessels is the use of Flettner rotor sails, which use the Magnus effect to provide additional propulsion and are in this case also coated with solar panels to harvest further energy. Inside the hull, the new ships have dual-fuel engines capable of running on LNG but are also configured to be able to use alternative fuels depending on customers’ demands
EXPECTED OUTCOMES “The basic concept of the IMOFlexMax will allow us to dramatically reduce local SOx, NOx and particle emissions, as well as greenhouse gas emissions,” the company says. “With the combined fuel and energy efficiencies, we will be able to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 25 per cent with a potential to reach up to 45 per cent compared to modern product tankers run by low-sulphur fuel oil.” Erik Hånell adds: “The plan is for the IMOFlexMax vessels to be deployed in Stena Bulk’s logistics system in the global market along with the IMOIIMax. The IMOFlexMax vessels will constitute an important asset for Stena Bulk, as well as for its partners, in strengthening our position as the market-
leading, cross-trading specialists in the MR segment with increased efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases. “The prototype is one step further in Stena Bulk’s vision of being our customers’ first choice for safety, innovation and performance in the transportation of oil, chemicals and gas.” Stena Bulk currently operates a fleet of some 115 tankers, ranging in size from two 9,600-dwt tankers operating in Asia up to the Sonangol pool of 160,000-dwt Suezmax crude oil tankers, together with three LNG carriers and two shuttle tankers. Apart from its home-town base in Gothenburg, it also has offices in Houston, Dubai, Copenhagen, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Stena Bulk is part of the Stena Sphere, which has around 20,000 employees in Sweden and elsewhere; this arrangement fosters close cooperation in terms of the use of different skill sets and resources, giving all units access to cutting-edge competence in all areas of shipping, from shipbuilding and manning to technical operation and financing. www.stenabulk.com
and the particular trade lanes on which they are deployed.
STENA BULK HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER A HOST OF IDEAS TO DESIGN THE TANKER OF TOMORROW
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