Coal Carrier Replacement for Tohoku Electric Power Completed
July 10, 2003
NYK Line will replace its coal carrier Noshiro Maru, so far engaged in transporting coal from abroad mainly to the Noshiro thermal power plant of Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. under a coal transport contract with the power company. The new vessel, completed at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. on July 11, is a 90,000-DWT-class bulk carrier of a wide, shallow-draft type. She will take over the name of Noshiro Maru.
The previous Noshiro Maru, completed at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in May 1993, served as the first dedicated coal carrier for Tohoku Electric Power for 10 years until May this year. NYK has decided to replace the vessel in conjunction with the extension of its coal transport contract with the power company.
In addition to Noshiro Maru, NYK Line operates another 90,000-DWT-class wide-type coal carrier Haramachi Maru (built at the Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.) for Tohoku Electric Power. Moreover, NYK Line operates the coal carrier Shinchi Maru (also built at the said Nagasaki Shipyard) under a joint cargo guarantee contract with Tohoku Electric Power and The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
The previous Noshiro Maru has been rechristened Shirakami after the Shirakami Mountains north of Noshiro Port, which have been designated as World Natural Heritage.
Principal particulars of the new Noshiro Maru are as follows:
| Length Overall | : 235.00 m |
| Breadth (moulded) | : 43.00 m |
| Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) | : 91,439 MT |
| Gross Tonnage (G/T) | : 50,464 t |