Friday, September 6, 2013

K Line orders planet's widest car carriers

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha has made agreements with two shipbuilding companies to build four car carrier vessels that will be the widest such vessels in the world, according to a company statement.

Shipbuilders Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co. and Japan Marine United Corporation will each build two of the next generation vessels.

"We have spent considerable length of time studying and investigating the most suitable next generation car carrier with shipyards," said Yoshiyuki Aoki, executive managing officer of K Line's car carrier sector. "These vessels will be the widest beam ever built, around 37-38 meters with 7,500-unit capacity. The length of the vessel is kept at 200 meters, considering (the) ability to call at any port."

Aoki said the 37-38 meter beam resulted from a series of simulation tests that explored both vessel stability and greater fuel efficiency. He said the cargo loading equipment inside of the cargo hold and loading ramp will be suited not only passenger cars but also other RORO cargoes.

Delivery of the four new ships is expected in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.

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