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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) recently commenced construction of the first ship in its ?Sayaendo? Series, which it has developed as a new-generation liquefied natu-ral gas (LNG) carrier, at the company?s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. The LNG carrier is one of two ships ordered jointly by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) in Octo-ber 2011. The Sayaendo Series has a hull shape that evolved from LNG carriers with Moss-type* hemi-spherical tanks, and it is designed to offer improve- ments in fuel consumption and maintainability. The unit now being built is slated for delivery in the fis-cal year 2014 (ending March 31, 2015).At a ceremony held at the shipyard to mark the oc-casion (pictured right), a prayer was offered up for safety throughout the vessel?s construction. The cer- emony was attended by representatives of the ship?s owners and from MHI.The LNG carrier will measure 288 x 48.9 with a 11.55 m draft. The 138,000 gt (75,000 dwt) ship is capable of carrying up to 153,000 cu. m. of LNG (cargo tank total volume: 155,000 cu. m.). It will be jointly owned by Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. (OGIT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas handling the operation of LNG carriers, and MOL, which will function as the ship management company. To protect its four Moss spherical tanks, the Say- aendo features a peapod-shaped continuous cover integrated with the ship?s hull in lieu of a conven- tional hemispherical cover. This innovative configu- ration enables reductions in size and weight while maintaining the ship?s overall structural rigidity. The continuous cover over the tanks also improves aerodynamics by substantially reducing wind pres-sure, which serves as drag on ship propulsion. For its main power plant the Sayaendo adopts MHI?s ?Ultra Steam Turbine Plant? (UST), a new turbine that provides higher thermal efficiency through ef- fective use of thermal energy by reheating steam. Through downsizing, weight reduction and hull line improvement, the new ship achieves a substantial 25% reduction in fuel consumption per unit cargo compared to conventional ships.With a conventional cover configuration, pipes, wires and catwalks atop the tanks are supported by complex structures. By covering the tanks with an integrated cover and making those supporting struc-tures unnecessary, the new design also improves maintainability. In addition, CO2 emissions are re- duced as a result of decreased fuel consumption, and response to environmental issues is further enhanced with installation of a ballast water treatment system, which addresses impact on the marine ecosystem.To date MHI has received orders for five Sayaendo Series carriers in total, including another ship or- dered by MOL in June. NEWSSayaendoConstruction Commences on Innovative LNG Carrier MR #1 (1-9).indd 8MR #1 (1-9).indd 81/3/2013 11:53:20 AM1/3/2013 11:53:20 AM