W Marine Orders Green Dolphin 84s Design Bulk Carrier

 

Greek shipowner W Marine Inc. has ordered a series of post-Panamax bulk carriers based on the Green Dolphin 84S design. The design was developed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) with support from DNV GL.

Managing Diriector of W Marine Inc., Nikolaos Triantafyllakis says: “The aim of the company, in line with the wishes of its founder, Yiannis Sarantitis, is to build up a homogeneous fleet of vessels ranging in size between Panamax to post-Panamax. The addition of the Green Dolphin 84S will substantially enhance the commercial profile of our fleet and give us a competitive edge within that segment of the dry bulk market.”

The Green Dolphin 84S is the third design in the Green Dolphin series of bulk carriers designed by SDARI, with assistance from DNV GL in the development process. The shallow draft design is able to lift larger cargo lots on a shallower draft which, combined with a fuel efficient design, makes it more efficient in a highly competitive market.

W Marine Inc. employed DNV GL to develop the operating profile, analyse the hydrodynamic performance of the hull shape, calculate the propulsion efficiency and estimate the fuel oil consumption.

Mr. Triantafyllakis adds: “It’s a big investment, so you want to reduce the risk by assessing performance and operational dynamics before you place the order. By evaluating the design, DNV GL gave us the confidence in the vessel’s performance and capabilities.”

Mr. Michael Aasland, DNV GL Maritime Business Director for Bulk Carriers, gave credit to the co-operation with W Marine Inc., and the work done by SDARI: “It is very rewarding to work with an owner who sees value in exploring new opportunities, and interesting to note that our scope of work with SDARI has shifted from optimisation to verification.” He added, “It is also encouraging to see that our work has helped to reduce some of the risks for an owner involved in ordering a new design.”

The Green Dolphin 84S follows on from the very successful Green Dolphin 38 design, released at Posidonia in 2012, of which almost one hundred have been ordered, and the new Green Dolphin 575, released at Marintec China 2013, which recently received its first orders.