PROPULSIVE POWER BOOST SYSTEM FOR CONTAINER CARRIER

Sumitomo Heavy Industries has completed conversions ordered by Orange Container Carriers Co. Ltd. for two modern containerships under the supervision of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd, as owner's technical consultant. The conversion work consisted of the installation of a propulsive boost system to increase the speed and the jumboisation of the hull for 45 feet of container stowage. Normally, increasing the service speed would have been accomplished by replacing the existing main engine with one of higher output. However, as containerships operate to tight time schedules, a quicker solution was needed. A propulsive boost system was used to meet the customers' requirements. This enabled the work for the two vessels to be completed in 35 and 34 days respectively. The speed of the vessels has been increased by about 1.1 knots as intended.