UASC Names First Ever LNG-Ready Ultra Large Container Vessel at HHI Shipyard in Ulsan

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) today named the industry’s first ever LNG-ready ultra large container vessel. MV “Sajir” is the first vessel in UASC’s current newbuilding program, comprising 17 of the world’s most eco-efficient vessels.

The design and consulting bureau TECHNOLOG services GmbH, Hamburg, consultants to UASC since 1997 have supported the UASC New-building Team throughout the project from initial design for tendering to final delivery.

With a capacity of 15,000 TEU (A15), the DNV GL classed vessel is the largest and most eco-efficient vessel in this capacity range. Preliminary calculations indicate an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) value that is close to 50% below the 2025 limit established by the IMO. MV “Sajir” will start operating on the Asia–North Europe route after delivery. Ten further A15 vessels and six 18,800 TEU (A18) box ships will be delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries to UASC by mid-2016.

Speaking at today’s naming ceremony in Ulsan, H.E. Salem Ali Al Zaabi, Chairman of UASC, said: ”At UASC, we see efficiency as a key competitive differentiator in an increasing competitive market.  Whether it stems from improving vessel design through our new-building program, strategic partnerships or empowering our people onboard and ashore to deliver improvements, efficiency pervades every facet of our expansion plans. The “Sajir” perfectly embodies this ethos and, as the first of 17 vessels in our current new-building program, represents an important milestone in the evolution of UASC.”

“UASC is proud of its Middle Eastern heritage and the “Sajir” takes its name from an area in Saudi Arabia that is known for its luscious landscape and farming heritage. We hope the “Sajir” personifies her namesake in many ways, with a long and fruitful career and full cargo holds,” Al Zaabi added.

“These highly efficient vessels help us significantly reduce the amount of fuel we consume per container,” said Jorn Hinge, President and Chief Executive Officer of UASC. “We operate one of the world’s youngest container vessel fleets and are committed to making it more environmentally sustainable. The A15 vessels go beyond what regulations require and set new standards in terms of efficient, safe and sustainable operations,” he remarked.

“Energy efficiency and sustainability are instrumental in developing and constructing state of the art container ships – and the A15 vessels fall in this category. We are happy to be working with UASC on this truly innovative project and are pleased that our technical expertise could help the owner in realizing it,” said Choi Kil-Seon, Chairman and CEO of Hyundai Heavy Industries.

“By combining leading innovations in ship design, propulsion technology, energy management and container stowage, the UASC new-buildings set new standards in container shipping. We would like to thank our partners for mutually sharing their knowledge with our experts in order to develop some of the most efficient and safest vessels the industry has seen so far,” said Tor Svensen, Chief Executive Officer of DNV GL Maritime.

The CO2 output per TEU for this new vessel class will be 22% less than for a 13,500 TEU vessel delivered only two years ago. The environmental credentials of the A15 class are further highlighted by the fact that these vessels are designed and prepared for a quick and cost-efficient LNG retrofit at a later stage. This “LNG-ready” concept has been confirmed with an Approval in Principle from DNV GL as an industry first. The vessels will further receive DNV GL’s CLEAN class notation, which documents that the new generation ships comply with environmental regulations beyond today’s normal IMO, flag and class standards. They will also be provided with an Inventory of Hazardous Materials, which is not yet a mandatory requirement, and they are one of the first to receive an Energy Efficiency Certificate with documented EEDI.

Moreover, all A15 vessels are equipped with an approved ballast water treatment system and a shore-to-ship power supply solution to enable zero emissions at berth, which is documented by the “Shore Power” class notation.

The A15 class vessels also deliver world-class standards of structural safety. The fatigue strength of the hull structure is based on the assumption of 25 years of operation in the North Atlantic, which is far beyond the normal standard. The A15 vessels will also be equipped with a DNV GL approved hull stress monitoring system that provides guidance to the crew on current stress level in the ship structure during operation.