The “Elise”, the first of five “Orca” newbuilds, has been launched at the Wuhu shipyard in China. Four more newbuildings will follow.
The “Orca” series comprises a total of five heavy-lift vessels for Hamburg-based SAL, a subsidiary of the Bremer Harren Group. The first four ships were ordered in September 2022 together with the Dutch shipping company Jumbo. Both companies are part of a Heavylift alliance. A fifth order followed at the end of last year.
“Orca” to set new environmental standards
The Orca class paves the way for a greener and more sustainable maritime future in the MPP segment, according to the statement. All newbuilds will be equipped with variable-speed dual-fuel engines from Wärtsilä that can run on methanol fuel. The equipment also includes an energy storage system, a PTO/PTI generator, a multidrive converter and Wärtsilä’s energy management system.
The energy storage system (ESS) is based on lithium titanium oxide (LTO) batteries, which are more powerful than normal lithium-ion systems. It can be used in combination with shore power for all-electric port operations. At the same time, it can be used as a booster at sea to reduce consumption and fluctuations in engine load.
Fewer emissions on “Orca” ships
At a service speed of 15 knots, the ships will consume significantly less than 20 tons of fuel oil per day – comparable to much smaller MPP ships. The maximum possible speed is 18.5 knots.
The ships measure 149.9 m x 27.2 m and have a carrying capacity of 14,600 dwt. They also have ice class 1A, Polar Code certification and a reduced design temperature for the hull and equipment. According to the information provided, this enables the ships to be used safely even in cold conditions.
The NOx emissions are reportedly 10% below the IMO Tier 3 level, and the EEDI Phase 3 limits for CO2 emissions are even 21% lower. Funding from the federal programme for the “Sustainable Modernization of Coastal Vessels” was approved for all newbuildings.
