Yesterday, Fure Viten, a 17,999 dwt tanker with a cargo capacity of 20,300 cubic metres, left the Yangzhou shipyard, setting a milestone for Swedish Furetank Rederi AB, becoming an international flagship as for environment and climate concerns. It is best in class globally when it comes to the UN climate goals for shipping. Thanks to gas propulsion and a unique combination of fuel-saving solutions, it reaches a very low EEDI value of 4.65. This means that Furetank’s new vessel series today already meets the emission targets for 2050.
The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulates emissions from new vessels through the EEDI energy efficiency design index, where a lower value means fewer emissions. Today, the requirement for a vessel the size of Fure Viten is to reach below 9.37 points, where Fure Viten reached a value as low as 4.65 points which is the best result achieved in the size segment so far.
« We will operate the ships we build now for the coming 20 years, so we have put a lot of effort into investigating what is the best possible technology that we can invest in today. Climate change is a reality and we believe that politicians mean what they say. Thus, if we are to survive as a shipping company in the future, we must do our absolute best to reduce our climate and environmental impact », says Lars Höglund, CEO of Furetank.
All systems energy-optimized
Fure Viten is the latest vessel in a series of eight vessels so far, out of which Furetank owns four and commercially operates all. The series is designed by Furetank and FKAB Marine Design in collaboration with Wärtsilä, with the aim of reducing fuel consumption as much as possible. Throughout the design and construction process, energy efficiency has been increased and the EEDI value has been improved.
«We have developed ships since the 80s and used our entire experience to optimize every detail. There is not a single system that we haven’t improved. This combination of interacting, energy-saving technical solutions is unique,» added Lars Höglund.
For example, batteries help reduce the use of auxiliary engines, a ducted propeller increases thrust and reduces power requirements, an improved hull shape minimizes drag, and the main engine and shaft generator use variable frequency to increase propeller efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Gas propulsion brings great benefits
The eight dual fuel vessels will be operated with LBG (liquefied biogas) or LNG (liquefied natural gas). Gas propulsion provides major climate, environmental and health benefits compared to oil. In combination with the technical optimizations, emissions of climate-affecting carbon dioxide have been reduced by 55% compared to older vessels and eutrophic nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 86%. Emissions of acidifying sulfur oxide (SOx) and hazardous particles (PM) are basically completely eliminated.
According to Lars Höglund, «the next step will be to operate the ships completely without fossil fuels. We are in the process of securing the supply of larger quantities of biogas within a year or so, through an exclusive agreement with a supplier. My view is that in 2030 we will run these vessels largely on LBG with zero fossil emissions».
First in Europe with full shore power
Fure Viten and preceding sister vessel Fure Vinga are the very first tankers in Europe that are fully equipped to operate the energy-demanding cargo pumps with 6.6 kV high-voltage shore power. This will reduce emissions even further as soon as ports offer the opportunity.
The solution is being developed in collaboration with the ports of Gothenburg and Rotterdam, currently in the process of developing the full capacity power connection required to operate the pumps. An important effort, as the emissions in port can account for up to 20% of the total emissions from a tanker, in an environment that is often even more sensitive to pollution and noise than at sea.
With the delivery of Fure Viten, the average carbon dioxide emissions from Furetank’s intermediate fleet have been decreased by 50% compared to 2008. Already today the vessel series fulfills its part of the IMO’s total emission target for the world fleet: to halve emissions up to year 2050.
Fure Viten
Dead weight: 17,999 tons
Load capacity: 20,300 cubic metres
Tanks: 12
Design: Furetank & FKAB Marine Design
Shipyard: China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Dingheng Co Ltd.
Commercial manager: Furetank Chartering within the Gothia Tanker Alliance
Flag: Sweden
Ice class: 1A
Fuels: Dual fuel, LBG / LNG
EEDI value: 4.65
