BV Proposes 12,500 TEU Mega Containership

Bureau Veritas expects demand for container slots to double over the next decade, making current post-panamax containerships too small. Working with Knud E Hansen, BV has developed a revolutionary 12,500 teu containership design which it says would provide economies of scale and harness innovative technical solutions to providing more capacity. "There are nearly 15 major terminals which could accommodate this size of vessel," says Matthieu de-Tugny, product manager dry bulk and containers for BV. "There are several feasible technical solutions to developing such ships, which represent new designs, not simply extensions of current thinking. At capacities over 10,000 teu, conventional designs cannot be maintained. It is a challenge for the whole shipping industry. As a class society, we try to ensure safety by assessing and solving any potential difficulties in advance." BV's mega containerships would have a scantling draft of 14.5 m and molded breadth of 54.2 m, carrying 12,523 teu on a deadweight of 152,000 dwt. The engine room and casings are positioned one quarter length from aft with the deckhouse forward of amidships, giving higher torsional rigidity, shorter shaftlines and better visibility from the bridge. Amongst several cross section alternatives considered to optimize the container arrangement and hull strength, a nice compromise of narrow skin double hull design and deep enhanced deck beam structure would provide the best longitudinal guarantees. Steel thicknesses in the amidships region are higher than those in current use. Hydrodynamics calculations give a power requirement of 94,000kW at 25 knots. De-Tugny says traditional single screw diesel engine power plants would not be suitable, but the design allows for twin 47,000 kW Diesels or azipod systems using hybrid power plants.