Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. delivered on Apr 23 the Pyxis Pioneer (Kawasaki hull No. 1737), an 82,200 m3 capacity liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, for Kumiai Navigation (Pte) Ltd. This is the 58th LPG carrier, and Kawasaki first vessel to include a SOｘ scrubber*.
Delivery, principal particulars, and features of the vessel are as described below.
Principal Particulars:
| Length overall | 229.90 m |
| Length between perpendiculars | 226.00 m |
| Molded breadth | 37.20 m |
| Molded depth | 21.00 m |
| Molded draft | 11.20 m |
| Gross tonnage | 47,236 |
| Deadweight | 53,928 t |
| Hold capacity | 82,391 m3 |
| Main engine | One set of Kawasaki-MAN B&W 7S60ME-C8.2 diesel engine |
| Complement | 29 people |
| Classification | Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) |
| Country of registration | Singapore |
Features:
- This vessel adopts Kawasaki's uniquely developed bow shape called SEA-Arrow, which significantly improves propulsion performance by minimizing bow wave resistance.
- The main engine powering the vessel is an energy-efficient, electronically-controlled, ultra-long-stroke, two-stroke low-speed diesel engine. In addition, the Kawasaki rudder bulb system with fins (RBS-F) and the semi-duct system with contra fins (SDS-F) contribute to reducing fuel consumption.
- In order to satisfy new restrictions on SOx emissions which will be implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020**, the vessel includes a set of Sox scrubbers at the exhaust gas outlets of the main engine and the power generation engine. With this system it is also possible to reduce the cost of fuel oil, because general fuel oil can continue to be used after the regulations are tightened, without the need to switch to low sulfur fuel oil.
- Four independent cargo tanks are installed in the cargo holds for carrying liquefied petroleum gas. The tanks are designed to provide optimal thermal insulation and absorb low-temperature contraction.
- The cargo tanks are made with special cryogenic steel for loading LPG with a minimum temperature of –46°C. The tanks are wrapped in urethane foam for thermal insulation.
- The vessel is designed to be fully compliant with the New Panamax requirements and is able to navigate the newly expanded Panama Canal, which was completed in June 2016.
* SOx scrubber: an exhaust gas cleaning system, which removes SOx (sulfur oxide).
**SOx emission control: Currently, SOx emission restrictions in North American and European emission control areas (ECAs) limit sulfur content in fuels to 0.1% or less. Starting on January 1, 2020, new regulations will require that ships operating in all other parts of the world achieve fuel sulfur content levels of 0.5% or less, or alternatively, use equipment to reduce SOx in exhaust gases to an equivalent level.
Source: Kawasaki