Stena Bulk has presented a prototype of a next-generation product and chemical tanker, the IMOFlexMAX. This ship is said to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 per cent compared to modern product tankers.
The vessel, designed by Stena Bulk to meet current and future needs of liquid bulk shipping, is a further development of the company’s current IMOIIMAX design.
‘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 at Stena Bulk.
Wind and solar power
The IMOFlexMAX has been designed by naval architects at sister company Stena Teknik and is based on forty years of tanker shipping experience. From hull design to vessel propulsion, these ships will incorporate the latest technology such as Flettner rotors and solar panels to harvest energy from wind and sunlight.
The ships will be powered by efficient dual-fuel engines that can run on LNG as well as conventional low-sulfur fuels, but also open the way for further development of alternatives. The basic concept is to reduce local SOX, NOX and particle emissions, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The combined fuel and energy efficiencies are said 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-sulfur fuel oil.
