Tokyo: Mitsui OSK Lines has announced that the design of the company's wind resistance reducing pure car carrier (PCC), has been patented in Japan and South Korea. Adopted on MOL-operated car carriers built since March 2003, more than a year of voyages by these PCCs has proved that the design reduces leeway, improves speed, and results in an annual fuel efficiency improvement exceeding 5% over similar PCCs of conventional design, claims the company. The design features amongst others: an aerodynamically rounded bow, bevelled along the bow line to help reduce pressure from headwinds; the vessel has different levels, with square cut corner sections, all along the sides of the vessel at the top of the garage deck, which help reduce pressure from side winds. As a result, the design improves both fuel efficiency, which in turn reduces emissions of CO2, NOx, and SOx in vessel engine exhaust, and speed. The design was developed through joint research with Universal Shipbuilding Corp. MOL has launched 17 car carriers with this design, starting with the Courageous Ace in March 2003. [27/09/06]
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