Fortum Shipping News

Increased interest in ice-classed tankers has been fostered to a great extent by the emergence of former Soviet Union (FSU) states as important players in the oil market. The FSU collectively, but with particular reference to Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, has emerged as the engine of global oil supply growth. Since 1996, FSU output has grown by around 50-percent, approaching the highs achieved during the Soviet regime. The fact that a substantial part of the production has been made available for export has key implications for sea borne transportation logistics and opportunities. Special challenges are presented for tanker design and operations because of the harshness of the environments in which the trade has to be conducted.

Attuned to the liner shipping industry's unerring drive for economies of scale, classification society Lloyd's Register (LR) has developed a conceptual design of container vessel incorporating a 12,500-TEU capacity. Although some 55-60 percent greater in slot capacity than the biggest cellular vessels ordered to date, the envisaged Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS) would be able to transit the Suez Canal and access key ports. LR considers that there are no insurmountable technical challenges to vessels of 12,500 TEU, and believes that it is only a matter of time before such tonnage makes its appearance in deep sea trade. The next five to 10 years could see the uptake of the envisaged new breed of behemoths by the container shipping industry.

Built Sumitomo Heavy Ind. Kvaerner Masa-Yards is well renowned for its ship and ship's equipment ice breaking technology. Upon visiting Finland on a recent excursion and enjoying winter in November, it's easy to see why. Quite simply, Finland must keep its icy shipping channels open during the winter to ensure its commercial survival. In the beginning of the 1990s, the company, in partnership with the Finnish Maritime Administration and ABB Industry of Finland, developed a new electrical propulsion system for icebreakers, the trade name of which is Azipod. The first vessels equipped with the new system, the 16,000 dwt tankers M/T Uikku and M/T Lunni owned by Fortum operated Nemarc Shipping…

The evolution of podded propulsion systems has gained steam in recent years, as a number of notable new systems have entered the market with new options. The era of podded propulsion is here and now, and despite some technical glitches with the systems - notably faster than anticipated bearing wear - it is safe to assume that the system's popularity will only grow with experience. Pods, obviously, are not the single solution for every marine application. As with any other technology, limitations exist. However, podded propulsion solutions have opened more marine technological avenues than they have closed as Harri Kulovaara, senior vice president of fleet operations and newbuilding…