NYK to Operate Ship Equipped with Environment-Friendly Engine
June 27, 2005
At Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., located in Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has taken delivery of Lyra Leader, a large-scale car carrier that has an environment-friendly, electronically controlled engine - the 8UEC60LSII-Eco - developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The ship, which has a vehicle carrying capacity of 6,500 cars, embarked on its first voyage on June 12, 2005, and will navigate a route to Australia for commissioning, before being deployed at different locations around the world.
NYK is constructing a series of ecoships that have a limited impact on the environment as a result of features such as a ship design that reduces wind resistance and fuel consumption. In addition, Lyra Leader is the first vessel to be equipped with an electronically controlled engine that can decrease nitrogen-oxide (NOx) emissions by about 15 percent compared to existing ship designs.
| Gross Tonnage | : 62,510 tons |
| Length Overall | : 199.9 meters |
| Operation Speed | : 20 knots |
| Vehicle-Carrying Capacity | |
| : 6,500 cars (number converted into the standard-type vehicles) | |
Since electronically controlled engines are expected to play a leading role in the field of marine engines in the future, NYK plans to extensively embrace and utilize this engine not only in car carriers but also in other types of vessels such as large-scale container ships. In addition, NYK will keep an eye on the continued technological progress of electronically controlled engines with the hope that further strides can be made toward global environmental conservation.
Electronically Controlled Engines
An electronically controlled system optimally times fuel injection and the opening and shutting of exhaust valves, which enables the engine to operate at optimal combustion efficiency. In particular, this type of engine improves combustion efficiency because of the high level of fuel injection pressure that can be maintained even in the low-load range. Therefore, the improvement reduces the generation of NOx, soot, and smoke to a significant degree. In addition, since stabilized combustion is maintained, the reliability of the engine improves, which is also one of the beneficial characteristics of this engine.