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October 18, 2004

Emergency Gen Sets: A Small but Important Cog

Samsung Heavy Industries recently delivered the 8,100 TEU CSCL ASIA to China

“Complex” would be an understatement in describing the components and their inter-relation on one of the new generation container ships currently building in Korea. Until recently 5500 TEU ships were the giants of the ocean. Now with 8100 TEU ships entering service the industry in anticipating the introduction of 9600 TEU ships already under construction. A standard requirement under SOLAS for all these ships is an emergency generator set located well above the engine room and waterline in the main accommodation block. “Korea holds the number one position in the global shipbuilding industry. It accounts for over 40 percent of the market. Within that Korean market, Cummins supplies 70 percent of the emergency gen sets,” explains Cummins Korea’s Marketing Manager Peter Kim, “Of 230 to 240 units of ocean going vessels currently under construction in Korea, we are supplying 160 to 170 auxiliary engines as emergency gen sets through our distributor STX.”

Recent deliveries with Cummins NTA855-D(M) emergency gen sets include the 8,100 TEU containership CSCL Asia. The six-cylinder NTA855 develops 450 HP at 1800 RPM. While insignificant in power when compared to the massive 12-cylinder 93,120 HP main engines of both the 8,100 and the 9,600 class vessels, these stalwart engines are an integral part of the ship’s safety system. Their Newage Stamford-AVK HCM434F1 generators produce 300 KW/IP23/AC450volts. For added safety in the event of massive failure, the primary electric starter is backed up with a secondary hydraulic starter.

Graham Porter Director of Vancouver-based Seaspan Container Lines Limited reports that his firm has placed orders with Samsung Heavy Industries for five 4250 TEU ships for delivery in 2005, five 8100 TEU ships for delivery in 2004, and eight 9600 TEU ships for delivery in 2006/2007 on behalf of itself and its partners China Shipping and Danaos Shipping of Greece. These ships will join five 4250 TEU ships that Seaspan took delivery of in 2002 all of these ships will go under charter to China Shipping Lines. Seaspan also has on order nine 4250 TEU ships for delivery in 2006 and ‘07 with charter arrangements in place for CP Ships.

Shipping Lines who operate the vessel under contract from
Seaspan Container Lines Limited of Vancouver BC.

With most major ports installing container cranes that will reach to 20 or even 22 containers stowed across a ship, the beam stacking of containers is not an issue. A 4,200 TEU ship has a length of 259.8 meters and a beam of 32.25 meters with 14 rows of containers across. The 8100 TEU ships have a length of 334 meters and a beam of 42.8 meters supporting 17 rows of containers across. The 9600 TEU ships will be just slightly longer at 337 meters but their beam is increased to 45.6 meters permitting them to take 18 rows of containers across. Porter understands that the big ship’s design will allow for the addition of another 80 feet of length and still accommodate the resulting torsional forces in order to take two more container bays and bring the total capacity to about 10,200 TEU.

These ships are the 747-400s of the marine world taking on huge cargoes between ports such as Shanghai and Long Beach or East Asia and Northern Europe. While the container trade is growing only marginally, the efficiencies of the larger ships will allow them to compete effectively on the heavier-volume cargo routes. When China Shipping Container Lines began developing their new facility in Los Angeles, the port worked with both the shipping line and Samsung to design the port modifications to meet the requirements for depth alongside to accommodate a 13-metre loaded draft and turning basins of the new larger ships.

For further information:
Peter Kim
Cummins Korea
2nd Floor, Choyang Building
113, Samsung-dong
Kangnam-ku
Seoul
South Korea

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