Fully Automated Containership Nichigoh Maru Delivered By Hitachi

Nichigoh Maru, a 36,912-gt, f u l l y automated containership built at the Hiroshima Works (Innoshima) of Hitachi Zosen, Japan, was delivered recently to her joint owners — Yamashita- Shinnihon Steamship, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Nippon Yusen.

A special committee made up of personnel r e p r e s e n t i n g the owners and the shipyard was established to guide the construction of the ship, i.e., to conduct research and d e v e l o p m e n t on manpower reduction, safety, and economy.

As a result of this joint effort, the cargo hold of the ship is designed to provide greater carrying capacity than conventional ships of the same class. The load on the deck is diminished and loading and unloading time is substantially reduced.

The new vessel employs a newly d e v e l o p e d , high hull-efficiency construction, including a special bulbous bow, and is equipped with a constant-pressure turbocharged, low-fuel engine resulting in higher propulsion speed at lower horsepower.

Extensive automation of engine room machinery and other main operating and control equipment reduced manpower requirements allowing operation by a crew of only 18.

The Nichigoh Maru is 217.175 meters long (about 713 feet) and carries 1,588 twenty-foot containers including 584 which are refrigerated.

The main engine, a Hitachi B&W 8L90GFC-type diesel, provided the ship with a maximum trial speed of 25.4 knots.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 36, Mar 1980

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