VESSEL REVIEW | Green Paranagua – Chinese 77,000DWT bulker to support South America wood pulp trade

China's Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB), through its shipowning arm SPDB Financial Leasing, has taken delivery of a new bulk carrier designed and built by local shipyard COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. Named in honour of the city in Brazil's Parana state, Green Paranagua is the fifth unit in a series of vessels developed specifically for the transport of wood pulp for export.

The ship has an LOA of 225 metres (738 feet), a beam of 32.26 metres (105.8 feet), a draught of 14.5 metres (47.6 feet), a depth of 21 metres (69 feet), a deadweight tonnage of approximately 77,000, a design speed of 15 knots, and a range of 25,000 nautical miles. The vessel is also equipped with a rotary dehumidifier and other sealing and drying facilities to ensure the quality and the safety of the pulp cargo during long voyages.

Innovative cargo handling systems

Although designed primarily as a pulp carrier, the vessel is versatile enough to accommodate other types of cargo in its box-type hold. Among these are high-speed rail vehicles, large machinery, offshore wind turbine components, steel pipes, and pile structures.

In order to ensure the safety of vehicles during transport, the ship is fitted with a "one-to-one" temperature monitoring and early warning system. Also installed are custom foldable frames for transporting vehicles.

Low emissions and vibrations

The vessel's propulsion system complies with IMO Tier III regulations by having selective catalytic reduction technology to reduce emissions of NOx generated by the main and auxiliary engines. Other energy-saving features are pre-rotating guide wheels and vortex elimination fins fitted on the hull.

The vibration and noise levels are below the maximum limits set by the Green Ecological Ship Code notation of China Classification Society. Also, the Ship Design Energy Efficiency Index (EEDI) far exceeds the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation's EEDI Phase III.

Green Paranagua will be operated primarily on routes off the eastern coast of South America. COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry expects to deliver 20 vessels from the same series over a period of two years to SPDB and other owners in China.