One of the first commercial applications of MAN Diesel & Turbo’s new MAN Alpha Kappel FP propeller took place off the coast of China recently when the vessel Elsabeth C, a 58,500-dwt Supramax bulk carrier owned by Frontmarine Co. Ltd – an affiliated and managed company of Lemissoler Navigation Co. Ltd., the Cypriot ship management group – completed its sea trials. The newbuilding is the first in a series of eight sister ships, all featuring single MAN B&W 5S60ME-C8.2 engines with an SMCR 8050 kW at 89 rpm. The Elsabeth C’s sister ship, Mirela, the second in the series, has since completed its own sea trials.
Lemissoler reports that the Kappel propeller offers fuel savings compared to conventional propellers and, together with the new vessels’ design and lines as well as the silyl acrylate antifouling paint, contributed to the results from the first two vessels’ sea trials. It reports that both vessels consumed an average 23 mtns per day at a speed of about 14.2 knots in ballast conditions during the trials. The Elsabeth C also performed a crash-stop test that was notable for its lack of noise and vibration.
Thomas Leander, Head of Propulsion – PrimeServ Four-Stroke – Denmark, said, “A key point during the design stage was to address the problem experienced by similar vessels that experience an overly-small light running margin (LRM). Therefore, MAN Diesel & Turbo recently introduced new light running margins for all FP propellers and two-stroke engines of 4-10 percent. Furthermore, the propeller layout for these 58,500-dwt vessels is 3-4 percent higher than normally applied to these vessel types. In doing so, MAN Diesel & Turbo has managed to ensure safe and reliable operation, while improving the vessel’s efficiency and maneuverability during its entire lifetime.”
The MAN Alpha Kappel propeller optimization has been carried out based on the stern and wake field for the newly designed 58,500-dwt vessel, with a 58,500-dwt stock propeller.
The Elsabeth C and Mirela were constructed by New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Jiangsu, China and are scheduled for delivery in September 2015. The remaining sisters are scheduled for delivery over the following 12 months. This series of vessels was specifically designed to have the largest carrying capacity and greatest efficiency of any vessel within the 190-meter LOA range.