In response to excellent operational experience, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd (Japan) has adopted the latest generation of MAN B&W Diesel’s 12K98ME electronically controlled engines for its new 8,000 TEU container ships, to be built by IHI Marine United Inc. in Japan.

It is the first time that MAN B&W Diesel ME engines will be installed in ships built by IHI Marine United. The ME engines will be built by MAN B&W Diesel licensees MES and KHI in Japan.

The announcement of this order, together with the reasons for selecting the ME engines, was given in a statement released by “K” Line earlier today. The content of the “K” Line News Letter is as follows:

May 6, 2004.
“K” LINE Decides Specs for New 8,000TEU Ships and Main Engines
“K”LINE has decided to adopt MAN B&W12K98ME as main engines for 4 new 8,000TEU containerships to be constructed by IHI Marine United Inc. (IHIMU) during the period 2006 to 2007.
Since initial plans for their construction started, it has been consistently determined that a type of electronic-controlled engine should be used, with candidates at the final stage boiling down to MAN B&W ME and SULZER RT flex.

 
MAN B&W ME is the one finally chosen for the following reasons:
a. MAN B&W MC series is the type being adopted for most “K”LINE ships
b. Staff of ship management companies and crewmembers are being proficiently trained with an excellent command of this type, making for easier technical management
c. Sharing of parts can be more efficiently enhanced with other K98 MC types used for other “K”LINE series of containerships
d. Ships powered by MAN B&W ME have already achieved such a high level of confidence on their reliability
“K”LINE has appointed Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. as manufacturers of the engines, with orders being placed with both firms for 2 units from each of them.
This adoption of the electronic-controlled MAN B&W ME type engine follows similar cases by “K” LINE for three 5,000-unit car carriers (main engine type: 7S60ME-C, by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) to be completed by the Chinese shipyard NACKS in 2005.
Merits from using this type engine include:
a. Improvement in fuel consumption and combustion condition at the time of part load
b. Capability for reducing air pollutants that tend to be discharged during port entry/departure, containerships helping to display such capabilities to a more remarkable extent

 
It should also be reported that adopting the following specifications is in compliance with the “K”LINE Group’s Environmental Policy of pursuing fulfilment of our company’s social contributions through preservation of the earthly environment, including the seas:
• Minimum ballast ships
We developed a new type of ship with minimum ballast that only needs ballast for control of position; taking a severer control on ballast water to minimize the transfer of non-indigenous aquatic creatures from one area to another.
• Allocation of fuel tanks in double-hull or on double-bottom
a. Prevention of fuel oil spillage through holes in ship hull caused by collision
b. Prevention by hydro-balance against oil spillage through holes in ship bottom resulting from grounding
• Large scale economizer of exhaust gas and turbo generator system
Recycling energy of exhaust gas from a main engine into electricity, which works well in both saving energy and reducing emission of CO2
• Adoption of non-tar paints (including carcinogen-free) for all ships
Ensuring less health threat to paint workers and crewmembers
• All machinery on deck powered by electric motors in place of oil pressure motors
Prevention of oil being spilled on deck that can cause marine pollution
• Instruction to everyone concerned to be in possession of a Green Passport in which all hazardous substances onboard are listed
In advance of law enforcement, we have started practicing part of the “Ship Recycle Guidelines” adopted December 2003 at the general assembly of IMO
• Adoption of refrigerant R404a with a zero coefficient of the Ozone layer depletion

In addition, we are determined to attach strategic importance to both reliability and safety rather than our new containerships just being of the largest size; hull structure design being based on analysis of ship model with large computerized calculators under a joint project between IHI MU and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK); (Notation) PrimeShip being granted when clearing the new standards for hull structure.
We have a strong intention to aim at even higher reliability and greater safety through acquirement of (Notation) PrimeShip.
In the end, we are firmly committed to steady continuation in the practice of a variety of measures for preservation of the environment on a global basis.

MAN B&W Diesel:
We wish to congratulate “K” Line on its decision. This order for 4 x 12K98ME engines now takes the total number of ME engines delivered or on order to more than 80.