NYK to Build 2 Double-Hull VLCCs at China's NACKS - Ongoing Shift to Double-Hull Structure to Be Completed in 2007
March 25, 2004
NYK has decided to build two 300,000-DWT VLCCs (large-sized crude oil tankers) as follows:
Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) |
: |
300,000 mt |
| Gross Tonnage (G/T) | : | 160,300 tons |
| Length Overall | : | 333 m |
| Breadth (moulded) | : | 60 m |
| To Be Ordered from | : | Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation |
| To Be Built at | : | Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) |
| Date of Completion | : | first half of 2007 and second half of 2007 |
NYK has been endeavoring to diversify the builders of its vessels. Above all, newbuilding in China has been under continuous consideration from a viewpoint of NYK's business strategy because of that country's large presence in the expansion of seaborne cargo traffic, which is expected in the years ahead.
At the end of last year, NYK placed a newbuilding order for two large-sized bulkers with a Chinese firm - Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. - for the first time. The planned construction of two VLCCs is NYK's second newbuilding project in China. Moreover, NYK is the first Japanese company to build VLCCs in that country.
NACKS, the builder of the two VLCCs, is known to boast top-class technology in China under the technical guidance of Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. It also has an abundant experience in building VLCCs. Therefore, NYK can expect the construction of high-quality VLCCs that are in no way inferior to vessels built at Japanese yards.
NYK's new VLCCs to be built from 2004 now number 13, including 11 vessels already on order.
The ongoing shift to a double-hull structure is one of the targets of NYK's "Environment Action Plan" for the protection of the marine environment. Thus, NYK has been pushing ahead with the construction of double-hull VLCCs with a view to completing the shift of its VLCC fleet to a double-hull structure by the end of 2007.
The completion of an additional two VLCCs to be newly built will boost the number of NYK's double-hull VLCCs to 29 and increase the ratio of double-hull vessels in NYK's VLCC fleet to 100 percent, making it certain for NYK to complete the shift of its VLCC fleet to a double-hull structure by the end of 2007 as scheduled.
VLCCs now on order:| Date of Completion | Shipyards | Contract with | |
| June 2004 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd | Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. | |
| July 2004 | Universal Shipbuilding Corporation | Nippon Oil Corporation | |
| *1 | September 2004 | IHI Marine United Inc. | Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. |
| November 2004 | Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. | Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. | |
| *2 | February 2005 | IHI Marine United Inc. | Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. |
| March 2005 | Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. | Free | |
| March 2005 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd | Free | |
| *1 | July 2005 | Universal Shipbuilding Corporation | Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. |
| December 2005 | IHI Marine United Inc. | Kyushu Oil Corp. | |
| 2nd Half of 2006 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd | Undecided | |
| 1st Quarter of 2007 | IHI Marine United Inc. | Undecided | |
| Note: | *1 : | To be co-owned with Kyoei Tanker Co., Ltd |
| *2 : | To be co-owned with Shinwa Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. |
NYK has adopted a double-hull fuel tank for new VLCCs to be completed from December 2005 from a viewpoint of protecting the marine environment. This tank structure will also be adopted for the two additional VLCCs to be newly built. The width between the outside hull and the inner wall of the fuel tank will likewise be 2 meters - the same as is the case with cargo tanks - in order to enhance the effectiveness of the double-hull structure.