New Japanese Coal Carrier Enters Service

A new coal carrier Noshiro Maru was delivered on September 30 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Saikai city, Nagasaki prefecture.

A delivery and naming ceremony was held at the shipyard on the same day and attended by Makoto Kaiwa, chairman of Tohoku Electric Power; his wife; and NYK Chairman Yasumi Kudo.

The new ship is the third to take the name Noshiro Maru, the first of which began transporting coal for Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. 23 years ago. The vessel is named after Noshiro terminal in Akita prefecture, the destination for coal that is transported mainly from Australia and Indonesia to generate electricity for the Tohoku district of Japan.

Compared to the standard 70,000-ton Panamax bulk carrier, the new Noshiro Maru has a wider beam and a shallower draft, improving transportation efficiency.

Length Overall: 235.00 meters
Breadth: 43.00 meters
Summer Draft: 13.00 meters
Gross Tonnage: 51,100 tons
Deadweight Tonnage: 90,150 metric tons 
Builder: Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
Country: Japan