Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company based in Yokohama, today held a christening and launch ceremony for the new ro/ro Fugaku Maru ship under construction for Fujitrans Corporation.
The ceremony took place in Shimonoseki. The new vessel will replace the current Fugaku Maru, originally constructed at MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works, which has been in continuous service since 1997.
The handover of the ship is scheduled for April 2024, after completion of outfitting work and sea trials.
The newly built roll-on/roll-off ship has an overall length of 165 meters, breadth of 27.6 meters and a gross tonnage of about 13,000. It can simultaneously transport up to 50 trailer chassis and 1,511 passenger cars.
According to shipbuilder Mitsubishi, the fuel efficiency in the new ship has been significantly improved, with the adoption of a vertical stem in the bow to reduce propulsion resistance, complemented by high-efficiency propellers, and use of low-friction paint.
The shipbuilder also added that “the new Fugaku Maru features a wider beam than its predecessor, and structural innovations have enabled the elimination of pillars on the trailer loading deck.”
“The onboard power generator can be shut down through connection of an onshore power receiving system installed in the engine room and power distribution equipment slated for installation in ports. In the future, this advance will enable zero emissions while the ship is in port.”
Meanwhile, a large LPG-powered LPG ammonia carrier has been delivered to MOL Energia Pte, a Singapore-based company of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group (MOL), with the support of two leading shipbuilders.
The vessel, named Phoenix Harmonia, has been constructed by Namura Shipbuilding (Namura) and delivered to the company on September 29, with the support of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group.
Based on a technical cooperation deal executed between the two companies in August 2021, Mitsubishi contributed in the wide range of technical aspects through the whole construction period of the vessel.
