B&W Will Construct Four Bulk Carriers For China Ocean Shipping

Burmeister & Wain Shipyard in Copenhagen has signed a contract with the state-owned shipping company China Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd. f o r delivery of four bulk carriers of about 64,000 dwt in 1982/83. The yard already has orders f o r five ships of this type, and has thus in less than one year obtained export orders for ships to a total value of 1.7 billion kroner. Contracts for more ships of this type are being negotiated.

Subsequent trends, e s p e c i a l ly the increasing demand for transports of grain and coal, has created an increasing interest for contracting of bulk carriers. Burmeister & Wain has obtained an international reputation, not only as the builder of up-to-date bulk carriers based on the yard's large series of bulk carriers, a total of 37 of which were built in the 1960s and 1970s, but also by developing a new fuel-saving type of bulk carrier of about 64,000 dwt, which has aroused great interest all over the world.

The new bulk carrier type is above all characterized by an outstanding operational economy giving a reduction of the fuel oil consumption of 15-20 percent as compared with more conventional bulk carriers of this size. Improvement has b e e n a c h i e v ed through a special hull construction and by installing the new B&W long stroke diesel engine of the type L80GFCA of 12,600 bhp with a fuel consumption of less than 40 tons per day at an average speed of 15 knots.

The new type of bulk carrier is marketed under the name of BC60E2 and is like the yard's other standard bulk carriers built according to the rules of Det norske Veritas. T h e y h a v e an overall length of 225 m e t e r s, beam of 32.24 meters, depth to upper deck of 18 meters, and draft of 13.1 meters. Their cruising range is about 21,500 nautical miles.

One year ago the yard employed approximately 900 workers. The number is now 1,500 workers and approximately 300 staff employees.

This order ensures full employment at the shipyard until 1983. The first bulk carrier of the new type will be delivered this year. Four more bulk carriers will be built in 1981, and subsequently work will start on the ships for China Ocean Shipping.

Other stories from November 1980 issue

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.