Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2014)

www.marinelink.com 41 be run in parallel with the other two die- sel generators, forming the vessel’s pow- er generation plant. The turbo generator also has the ability to operate with direct steam generated from the auxiliary boil- ers in case that the main engine load is low or when the M/E is stopped. The heat from M/E air cooler is used to heat the

Feed Water for WHRS system adding to overall energy saving. Further the con- densate from T/G vacuum condenser is pre-heated by M/E jacket water cooling system before returning to cascade tank.

KOTC has ordered the vessel with several improvements in the fi eld of electric power consumption. More spe- cifi cally, an energy saving system (ESS) is installed on board the ship, a system which uses a variable frequency motor drive (inverter) for each main cooling sea water pump to reduce the motor power consumption by varying the frequency of the motors according to the cooling capacity requirements. The accommoda- tion air condition system blowers are also provided with variable frequency drive to optimize room temperature while saving as much energy as possible. Additionally, the full accommodation area is fi tted with

LED type lights for improved illumina- tion and reduced power consumption and the normal lights in E/R is designed to switch off automatically when the E/R is in unmanned state.

The environmental friendly charac- ter of the vessel has been a top priority at all stages of design and hence KOTC has taken the initiative to install a Ballast

Water Treatment System (BWTS), which uses fi ltration and UV disinfection tech- nology to minimize the impact on the lo- cal marine ecosystems.

In addition, the vessel is equipped with a Volatile Organic Compounds reduction system (De-VOC) to minimize the gen- eration of volatile organic compounds, especially at the initial stage of cargo loading. The selection of the Wärtsilä

RT-fl ex main engine, diesel generator engines and waste heat recovery system further reduce the exhaust gas emissions from the vessel and thus reduce her car- bon footprint. The vessel’s main engine and diesel generator engines emissions are continuously monitored by the emis- sion monitoring system fi tted on Al Kout, using sampling probes installed on each exhaust gas piping. A bio-oil based stern tube lubrication system is used for mak- ing the vessel more eco-friendly. The ves- sel is built ready for using fuel oil with 0.1 % sulfur to meet the upcoming stringent

SECA requirements. It is worth noting further that KOTC have gone into minute details for protecting the environment by installing a VOC Control (VOCON) sys- tem to control and minimize VOC release during the passage of the vessel.

On the ship’s security and anti-piracy front, the vessel is provided with all the latest technology against piracy. Specifi - cally, the long range anti-piracy measures include an innovative acoustic hailing de- vice, which is used to deter and delay any attacking pirate boat by transmitting di- rectional sound waves towards the attack- ing boat, after broadcasting warning mes- sages. Short range measures consist of portable high pressure water jet cannons, anti-intrusion barriers (AIB), secure ac- commodation arrangement (enclosed lad- der trunks at both port and starboard) at all possible accommodation accesses and designated citadel area with emergency communication equipment.

The surveillance of the spaces on board as well as in the vicinity of the vessel are monitored by a CCTV system at three control positions, which includes 16 cam- eras installed at key positions.

In addition to technical outfi t, Al Kout – per MLC 2006 – is well outfi tted for crew comfort. Among others, the crew can enjoy an indoor swimming pool with pyramid shape glass roof, sauna, large and fully equipped gymnasium and sports room, high speed broadband internet con- nection, on board entertainment system and satellite television. The accommo- dation spaces are also selected and con- structed to a very high standard with spa- cious cabins and communal areas.

The ship features a centralized control, alarm and monitoring system (CAMS) includes more than 1,800 monitored pa- rameters, instantly providing the engine and deck offi cers with all necessary in- formation and adequately protecting all machineries on board.

An oil mist detector system is incor- porated in E/R to continuously monitor and detect all strategic areas in the engine room for any possible mist formation.

Provisions have been made for the easy retrofi t of an alternative marine power (AMP) system at any future stage, which will allow the supply of the total neces- sary electric power from shore while at port. Another noteworthy design feature of Al Kout is that all equipment in accom- modation spaces and control stations (en- gine control room, cargo control room, wheel house) are designed on the basis of ambient temperature of 45o C, while alternators, motors and cables in engine room are designed and manufactured on the basis of ambient temperature of 55 degrees C.

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