The first vessel of the new Eco Star 36k type, »GasChem Beluga[ds_preview]«, has been delivered to the owner Ocean Yield. The design was developed under the lead of German ship owner Hartmann Reederei together with its long-term partners HB Hunte Engineering for the ship design and AC Inox delivering gas plant and equipment.
According to the designers the hull design is unique and highly efficient: The vessel’s superstructures are located at the bow, the engine at the stern, resulting in a favourable distribution of weight and a significant reduction of ballast water. In combination with the new »Svelte« bow design invented by Hartmann, this hull type leads to reduced, more efficient fuel consumption, it is said. The new generation emi-refrigerated Etyhlene/Ethane- (-104 deg C) carrier can transport 36,000 cbm of ethane, using the »Star Tilobe« cargo tank design. The vessel was launched in May 2016 at Dayang Shipbilding. The MAN main engine is capable to burn gas and traditional fuel alike. It is also the first ever 2-stroke engine operating on ethane and LNG with negligible methane slip due to the diesel principle.
