Largest shipbuilding order an environmental breakthrough

the world＇s largest shipbuilding order ever contracted is being hailed as setting new environmental stａndards in the shipping world, by almost halving vessel emissions. brazilian mining giant companhia vale do rio doce (vale) has placed a $1.6 billion order for 12 huge iron ore carriers ｆrom china＇s jiangsu rongsheng heavy industries co. ltd shipbuilder. the vessels have a capacity of 400,000 tonnes each. ﹔ the step up ｆrom a stａndard capsize bulk carrier means a reduction of between 30％ ａnd 40％ in fuel consumption ａnd carbon dioxide (co2) emissions for each tonne of cargo carried. ﹔ this is a significant reduction in the carbon footprint per unit cargo, according to reports.
"we have over the past few years seen a shift towards the building of larger bulk carriers. ﹔ this has an obvious economical rationale for the large iron ore trades. ﹔ however, it has also significant environmental benefits," said dnv maritime’s spokesperson tor e. svensen. ﹔ dnv is acting as a third party to ensure the quality ａnd safety of the vessels.
the new vessels will enable vale to reduce the cost of long﹣haul maritime transportation of iron ore to steel makers, a vale report said.
the ships are to operate on a fixed route between brazil ａnd china.
each vessel will be 360 meters long, 65 meters wide ａnd 30.4 meters high ａnd jiangsu rongseng is using the latest technology to create vessels that combine a record﹣low carbon footprint with reliable operations. ﹔ no further details about the specifications have been released as yet.
"we are now building ships whose cargo capacity doubles our current ships’ in order to reduce the transportation costs for each tonne of iron ore," said eduardo bartolomeo, vale’s ｅxecutive board director in ｃharge of logistics.
special attention has been given to the fatigue life ａnd efficient loading operations. ﹔ the vessels will apply the new dnv class notation el﹣2 (easy loading), that combines safety with loading flexibility, ａnd will allow the vessels to load each cargo hold in one pass.
the first of the ships will be delivered in 2011, ａnd the order should be completed by 2012.