The MIBS design, developed by Namura Shipbuilding Co in cooperation with the Shipbuilding Research Centre of Japan, reduces ballast water volumes by 65%, allowing smaller and more fuel-efficient ballast water treatment systems to be used.
The system builds on the previous hull design proposed by the Japan Ship Technology Research Association, dubbed No Ballast Water or NOBS, which was found to be inadequate for shipowners' needs, proving too wide for many commercial applications. The MIBS design utilises a flatter bottom and standard width VLCC.
ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda described the design as “an impressive technical achievement,” adding: “Ballast water management is a major challenge for the maritime industry, and that is why ClassNK is constantly working with the industry to find new practical solutions, such as… Namura Shipbuilding’s new MIBS design, which not only represents a massive technological leap in terms of ship design but will also help reduce ballast water management costs for shipowners."
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