Green Dolphin News

Great Intelligence, the first China smart ship, was presented with Lloyd's Register (LR) cyber-enabled ship (CES) descriptive notes. Great Intelligence was designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) and built at Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co., Ltd (GWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). Along with LR, System Engineering research Institute (SERI) and China Class Society (CCS) were also involved in this project. Great Intelligence, a 38,800 dwt modified version of the Green Dolphin fuel-efficient Bulk Carrier concept, is the pilot smart ship project within China. LR’s latest CES descriptive notes will be assigned to the project and the latest requirements are applied to this ship.

China's first "smart" ship embedded with a domestically-developed intelligent navigation system made its debut in Shanghai, according to official media Xinhua. China Daily also reported that the world's first smart ship, developed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC),  has started its first trial voyage in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. Christened as 'Great Intelligence' (Great Smart) 179-meter-long ship  is 32-meters-wide and 15-meters-high, with a maximum loading capacity of 38,800 tonnes. The report said that it is installed with SOMS, a China-Developed marine system with autonomous learning ability and intelligent operation system.

Project partners BHP, Fortescue, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Rio Tinto, SDARI, U-Ming, Woodside, and DNV GL presented the results from stage one of their “Green Corridor” joint industry project (JIP), which demonstrated the commercial potential and technical feasibility of bulkers fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the iron ore and coal trade between Australia and China. The result is an LNG-fueled Newcastlemax design which is in the process of receiving Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV GL. The idea of developing LNG-fueling infrastructure for the vessels operating on the Australia–China iron ore and coal trade route has been contemplated by major charterers, ship owners and operators for many years.

DNV GL has honoured three engineers for their scientific research with the DNV GL Award for Young Professionals. Presented by DNV GL – Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen at the Posidonia trade fair, the award is designed to find innovative ideas for increasing safety, efficiency and sustainability in shipping. As well as seeking out the best new research, the award aims to support young professionals in the maritime field. Overall, 24 people took part in the competition. “Young professionals are a driving force in developing innovative solutions to the challenges shipping faces today and in the future. This award was created to honour the brightest among tomorrow’s industry experts and it is very interesting to learn more about this year’s winning projects…

Pioneer Marine Inc., a shipowner and global drybulk handysize transportation service provider, has terminated the last two newbuilding contracts for Green Dolphin 38,400 dwt Handysize vessels following mutual agreement with Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard. The instalments paid in relation with these contracts including interest will be paid back by the refund guarantor. In a release, Pankaj Khanna, CEO of Pioneer, said “Following the termination of the last two newbuildings we have eliminated all capital expenditure for the company. Our proactive management of this unprecedented low cycle has seen us cancel 10 of the 12 newbuildings ordered in the original program and demonstrates the complete alignment of management with shareholder’s interests.

Singapore-based bulker player Pioneer Marine has terminated five handysize newbuild contracts at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard. The leading shipowner and global drybulk handysize transportation service provider announced the following developments regarding its newbuilding program: "Termination of five newbuilding contracts for Green Dolphin 38,400 dwt Handysize vessels following mutual agreement with Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard. The Company's CEO, Pankaj Khanna, further elaborated by stating, "The unprecedented downturn in drybulk freight rates has prompted us to cancel another five of our newbuilding contracts at Guoyu Shipyard. Pankaj added: "The cancellation frees up $30 million in cash immediately, to add to our existing cash balance of $57 million as of the end of February 2016.

Singapore-based dry bulk operator Pioneer Marine posted a loss of $80.6m for the fourth quarter, and a yearly loss of $96.9m for 2015. Excluding the effect of the impairment loss, net loss as adjusted would have been $22.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 or $0.87 adjusted loss per share basic and diluted and $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 or $0.21 adjusted loss per share basic and diluted. Pankaj Khanna, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “2015 proved to be a challenging year for the drybulk industry with excess supply overwhelming anaemic demand growth, particularly in the fourth quarter. Iron ore and coal imports into China suffered the most as iron ore imports grew by just 2% compared to 2014 and coal imports declined by almost 30%.

Pioneer Marine Inc., today accepted delivery of a 38,419 DWT Green Dolphin eco-design handysize vessel, the M.V. Kite Bay. The new vessel, which was constructed at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, is Pioneer’s second Green Dolphin eco-design handysize vessel. The ship’s fuel consumption is about 6 tonnes per day lower than the non-eco design vessels. In addition to eco-friendly efficiencies, Pioneer’s Green Dolphin newbuilding series are equipped with features which offer substantial commercial flexibility such as hull strengthened to Ice Class 1C, fully logs fitted, suitable for the carriage of various dangerous cargoes, grab fitted, ABB Octopus system for fuel consumption optimization, mass flow meters on the bunker line and more.

Pioneer Marine, a shipowner and drybulk handysize transportation service provider, announced  it has accepted delivery of a 38,464 DWT Green Dolphin eco-design handysize vessel, the M.V. Falcon Bay. The new vessel, which was constructed at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, is Pioneer's first Green Dolphin eco-design handysize vessel. The ship's fuel consumption is about 6 tonnes per day lower than the non-eco design vessels. In addition to eco-friendly efficiencies, Pioneer's Green Dolphin newbuilding series are equipped with features which offer substantial commercial flexibility such as hull strengthened to Ice Class 1C, fully logs fitted…

V.Ships, the ship management arm of global maritime services provider V.Group, has recently completed the transfer of the rapidly growing Pioneer fleet of geared dry bulk carriers into its management portfolio. Pioneer Marine Inc, a fleet owner of some one million deadweight of tonnage, currently operates 13 operational handysize and handymax dry bulk ships on the water with another 12 ships currently under construction in China. Initially contracted in August 2014 to manage three of Pioneer’s vessels…

Pioneer Marine’s newbuilds will feature OCTOPUS-Onboard fuel monitoring system to support the crew’s decision-making. ABB Group company Amarcon will deliver Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)-compliant OCTOPUS-Onboard fuel monitoring systems for 12 Handysize bulk carriers that will be built by YangZhou GuoYu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd and delivered to the Singapore based owner Pioneer Marine Inc. in 2015 and 2016. Mandatory on all vessels since 2013, SEEMP is an operational measure that establishes a mechanism to improve the energy efficiency of a ship in a cost-effective manner.

A total of 22 bulk carriers, being built by Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in China for Singapore based Pioneer Marine, will feature Wärtsilä Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS). The Wärtsilä systems will enable the vessels to comply fully with the IMO's ballast water convention. The contracts were finalized in August. Each of the 38,000 DWT vessels will be fitted with two Wärtsilä AQUARIUS UV BWMS, and the scope of supply includes also the commissioning and sea trials of the equipment.

In early June, the shipping community met in Athens, Greece for Posidonia 2014. While the focus in Athens tends to be skewed more toward the night life and after hour parties, Maritime Reporter was able to dig out some relevant product and service news from the exhibition center. Wilhelmsen Ship Service (www.wilhelmsen.com/shipsservice) introduced its fuel oil treatment range and integrated welding safety products and services at Posidonia. Engineered to maintain vessel performance and engine efficiency even when slow-steaming or burning low sulfur fuel…

Greek shipowner W Marine Inc. has ordered a series of post-Panamax bulk carriers based on the Green Dolphin 84S design. The design was developed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) with support from DNV GL. Managing Diriector of W Marine Inc., Nikolaos Triantafyllakis says: “The aim of the company, in line with the wishes of its founder, Yiannis Sarantitis, is to build up a homogeneous fleet of vessels ranging in size between Panamax to post-Panamax. The Green Dolphin 84S is the third design in the Green Dolphin series of bulk carriers designed by SDARI, with assistance from DNV GL in the development process.

Greek shipowner W Marine Inc. has ordered a series of post-Panamax bulk carriers based on the Green Dolphin 84S design. The design was developed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) with support from DNV GL. Managing Diriector of W Marine Inc., Nikolaos Triantafyllakis said, “The aim of the company, in line with the wishes of its founder, Yiannis Sarantitis, is to build up a homogeneous fleet of vessels ranging in size between Panamax to post-Panamax. The Green Dolphin 84S is the third design in the Green Dolphin series of bulk carriers designed by SDARI, with assistance from DNV GL in the development process.

DNV GL launched a new service named Build2Design to help shipyards and shipowners improve the fuel economy of their ships by reducing variations in their building process. Significant improvements have been achieved in the design of more fuel-efficient ships in recent years. The performance of these Eco-Ship designs has been documented by both Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and tank testing and some designs have also proven their performance in operation. However, questions…

“The focus has been on reducing the fuel consumption while giving owners different options to meet the future expected environmental regulations. The concept design is ready for the owners’ preferred choice, whether that it is to run on heavy fuel oil using emission treatment systems or to switch to low sulphur fuels or LNG,” says Hu Jin-Tao, the president of SDARI. The Green Dolphin concept design is a five-cargo-hold CSR double-hull bulk carrier that meets current and future expected air and water emissions regulations.

The ports of and was honored Foss Maritime Company, calling its innovative approach to reducing air pollution in southern an outstanding example of corporate leadership. Among Foss’ initiatives: Developing the world’s first hybrid tug, the Green Dolphin, a low-emission vessel that company officials expect to deploy in San Pedro Bay by the fall of 2008. Earlier this year, the federal Environmental Protection Agency gave Foss and the Green Dolphin its Clean Air Technology Award, the first time a marine operating company has ever received the honor. Susan Hayman, vice president for environmental and corporate development, accepted the award for corporate level leadership at the First Annual San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan – Clean Air Excellence Awards.

U.S. Coast Guard has awarded the Foss Maritime Company its most prestigious environmental honor: the 2008 William M. Benkert ‘gold’ award for marine environmental protection. It is Foss’ second major ‘green’ award in less than a month. In early June, Foss won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence Award for development of its low emission ‘Green Dolphin’ hybrid tug, the first time a maritime operating company has ever received the EPA’s honor. Foss also received a Commendation – Environmental Award from BP Shipping, and honorable mention for the ’s 2008 Marine Environmental Business of the Year award. Foss Maritime President Gary Faber and other top company officials were in , CA., to receive the Benkert award from Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen.