Berge Bulk launches newcastlemax vessel
Published by Oliver Kleinschmidt,
Editorial Assistant
Dry Bulk,
Berge Bulk has announced the delivery of its newest vessel, Berge Mauna Kea, marking a significant addition to its fleet. Delivered from Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. at Saijo Shipyard in Japan, it has brought Berge Bulk’s fleet to a total of 89 vessels, with a cumulative capacity of 15 million DWT.
About the vessel
The Berge Mauna Kea is a newcastlemax vessel, stretching 300 m in length and 50 m in width, with a carrying capacity of 211 599 DWT. The vessel sails under the flag of Isle of Man.
The vessel was named after Mauna Kea, a long-dormant volcano in Hawaii, US. Mauna Kea is officially the world’s tallest mountain from base to peak, even though more than half of the mountain is underwater in the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 10 205 m (33 481 ft) in height, taller than Mount Everest’s 8 849 m (29 032 ft).
Berge Mauna Kea is one of four sister ships ordered by Berge Bulk in 2021 from Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan. The other three sister ships will be delivered over the course of 2024.
Energy efficient features
The ship was designed and optimised through advanced numerical simulation and physical testing.
“Berge Mauna Kea’s modern design makes the vessel very efficient. This is achieved not only through a smaller, more efficient main engine, but also through careful consideration of various propulsion system components to maintain higher operating speed and optimal manoeuvrability.” Stated Paolo Tonon, Technical Director, Berge Bulk.
Key highlights of its energy efficient design include:
- Upgraded hull design, tailored to optimise performance and efficiency.
- Advanced stern gear system with a rudder bulb and a custom propeller duct, enhancing propulsion efficiency.
- The main engine is based on the latest development in fuel efficiency by MAN (series 10.6) with approximately 6% lower fuel consumption compared to its predecessor. This is achieved by a new low-load tuning, combining sequential fuel injection (SEQ) and exhaust gas bypass (EGB) tuning for optimising specific fuel oil consumption (SFOC).
- The main engine’s installed power is 40% more efficient than similar vessels built in 2008.
- The vessel is compliant with EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) Phase 3 in advance of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirements.
Future plans
Looking ahead, Berge Bulk plans to further improve Berge Mauna Kea’s energy efficiency. This includes implementing a power management system, propeller fouling prevention system, high frequency data collection system for performance monitoring, and an advanced voyage optimisation system.
James Marshall, Founder and CEO of Berge Bulk, who introduced the company’s ‘Maritime Marshall Plan’ for decarbonisation last year commented: “Last year, we introduced WindWings on the Berge Olympus, showcasing our dedication to innovative technology. This year, we ordered two new ammonia-powered vessels demonstrating our commitment to zero carbon fuels. At the same time, we have not lost sight of the need to further improve our existing fleet, through a continued investment and upgrading programme. Berge Mauna Kea is a great example of such a hyper efficient ship ordered back in 2021.”
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Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/shipping/15042024/berge-bulk-launches-newcastlemax-vessel/
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