On 30 January, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) took delivery of the multi-purpose vessel Prima Verde. It is said to be the world’s first vessel of any type to use green steel materials, an engine that can run exclusively on marine gas oil (MGO) and a wind assisted ship propulsion (WASP) system.
The vessel will be operated by MOL group company MOL Drybulk Ltd. and is effectively owned by Daishin Shipping. It was built at Onomichi Dockyard. The 17,611-tonne vessel measures 129.66 x 23.6 metres and sails under the flag of Liberia.
Also read: MOL launches Japan’s first methanol-fuelled coastal tanker
Green steel, MGO and VentoFoils
JGreeX has been used for the vessel’s hull. This is a green steel material supplied by JFE Steel Corporation that significantly reduces CO2 emissions. CO2 emission reductions in the steel manufacturing process are allocated to optional steel materials.
The vessel is also equipped with an engine from Japan Engine Corporation that can run exclusively on MGO. The engine has high combustion efficiency and low carbon dioxide emissions during operation.
In addition, the Prima Verde is equipped with two VentoFoil wind power assisted vessel propulsion devices from Dutch company Econowind, for which MOL Techno-Trade serves as a sales agent. The installation is expected to reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions by utilising wind power for propulsion.
The MOL Group aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 as stated in the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2”.
Picture by MOL.
Also read: Jumbo equips heavy-lift vessel with Econowind sails
