Hantong Ship Heavy Industry of China is set to build the country’s first dual-fuel bulker.
The newbuilding deal is known to involve a 50,000-dwt bulker, with delivery in 2014. The owner has not been disclosed.
Sources said the bulker will transport finished products between Europe and China on long-term contracts. As the bulker will operate within European Emission Control Areas (ECAs), valid from 2015, it needs to meet strict local requirements on sulphur emissions.
It seems that China is making an environmental breakthrough in response to tougher emissions standards.
For instance, Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SADRI) is promoting LNG-fuelled bulkers in a joint project with DNV and Wartsila, having developed a 38,000-dwt dual-fuelled handysize bulker design. Hantong builds dual-fuel ship