Additionally Contributing to Oceanographic Research on Microplastics
On August 23, Stellar Harmony, a dedicated wood-chip carrier, was delivered at the shipyard of Iwagi Zosen Co., Ltd., a member of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group. The vessel will transport environmentally and socially conscious wood chips mainly from New Zealand, Australia, North America, and South America under a long-term contract between NYK and Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd.
Stellar Harmony comes equipped with hybrid fins (energy-saving equipment installed on the rudder to improve propulsion efficiency) and an energy-saving governor (equipment that saves fuel and reduces the load during main engine operation), as well as an eco-friendly main engine with specifications that improve fuel efficiency during low-load operation.
The ship will also pump in seawater along its routes to collect microplastics floating in the ocean. The collected microplastics will be unloaded and analyzed by the Chiba Institute of Technology and used for research to clarify the actual distribution of microplastics in the ocean.*
Vessel Particulars:
- Length overall: approx. 199.9 meters
- Breadth: 32.24 meters
- Deadweight tonnage: 49,506 metric tons
- Cargo tank capacity: approx. 3,600,000 cubic feet
- Builder: Iwagi Zosen Co., Ltd. (Imabari Shipbuilding Group)