DNV to class 'world's largest shipbuilding order'

Oslo: Classification society DNV provides further details of Brazilian mining giant Vale's previously reported order for 12 VLOCs of 400,000dwt each from Rongsheng Heavy Industries (RSHI) in China, which it describes as the world's largest shipbuilding order ever in terms of total deadweight tonnes. DNV has been selected to class all 12 vessels.

The ore carriers will measure 360 metres long by 65 metres wide and 30.4 metres high, making them world's largest ore carriers ever contracted. The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2011. All vessels will be operated on fixed route transporting iron ore between Brazil and China.

DNV says the VLOCs will set a new standard in shipping as they are designed for a record low carbon footprint, and for long-lasting, effective and reliable operation. Also, the vessels are being designed with special attention to fatigue life and efficient loading operations, and will apply the new DNV class notation EL-2 (Easy Loading). El-2 ensures a design that combine safety with loading flexibility and it will allow the vessels to load each cargo hold in one pass.

"DNV is pleased to be the selected class society for this pioneering project," says Tor E. Svensen DNV Maritime's COO. "Our role as an independent third party is to ensure that quality and safety of these vessels are taken care of both during design, construction and operation." The class society enjoys a 70% share of existing VLOCs, he adds.

Svensen continues: "We have over the past few years seen a shift towards the building of larger bulk carriers. This has an obvious economical rational for the large iron ore trades. However, it has also significant environmental benefits. The step up from a standard capsize bulk carrier to these 400,000dwt VLOCs means a reduction by between 30 and 40 per cent in fuel consumption and CO2 emission for each tonne of cargo carried. This is a significant reduction in carbon footprint per unit cargo carried."

RSHI is the world's top 10 largest shipbuilder and the third-largest in China measured by its orderbook size. Based in China's Jiangsu Rugao, it has a workforce of over 10,000 employees. [14/08/08]

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