Japan's NYK Orders Two Heavy Lift Vessels

Japanese shipping line NYK Group August 26 said its subsidiary, NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, has signed a contract with China’s Nanjing Jinling Shipyard to build two next-generation heavy-lift vessels to service the wind and LNG sectors.

“The heavy cargo ship market has been sluggish since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, but due to the recent increase in environmental awareness, the cargo movements of wind-power plants and LNG plants have become active, and these ships are expected to meet market needs. We will maintain and accumulate the technical know-how of heavy-lift vessels by owning and operating these vessels, and as the only heavy shipping company in Japan, we will respond to the needs of plant cargo customers,” the company said.

These ships will be equipped with two 400 metric ton cranes and be able to lift up to 800 mt of heavy cargo. The hold will be about 95 metres in length at its maximum without any bulkheads. The ships will be hatch coverless, which will allow for navigation with the hatch cover open, and the bridge will be placed at the ship front, enabling the loading of tall and large cargo without worry of any disruption to forward visibility during navigation, NYK said.

The vessels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet in advance EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) Phase 3 requirements that will become effective in 2025. These energy-saving heavy-lift vessels give maximum consideration to the environment, it added.