Cruise News - Maritime News

Aker BioMarine will build a new energy efficient vessel, which will be fitted out with a number of key efficiency improvements and environmentally focused technologies.  

To be constructed in China, at CIMC Raffles, Yantai yard, the 168-metre-long vessel will be specifically designed to have as minimal an impact on the environment as possible. The vessel will comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Polar Code. The new support vessel with a price tag of 65 MUSD will replace Aker BioMarine’s existing support vessel, La Manche.  

“Protection of the environment is an absolute essential for us, and the design of this vessel has sustainability as a primary focus. It incorporates the latest energy saving and environmentally friendly technologies, such as the hybrid propulsion system, and an advanced heat recovery system that helps to reduce the carbon footprint even further,” says Eldar Vindvik, Director Fleet Renewal at Aker BioMarine.  

The new support vessel will be powered by Wärtsilä’s award-winning 31 engine. Offering unparalleled flexibility when it comes to fuel choices, the hybrid, 4-stroke diesel engine, sets a new benchmark for emissions performance and also holds a Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency.

Featuring frequency-controlled thrusters, to avoid zero pitch loss and reduce underwater noise, the vessel will also be equipped with Dynamic Positioning capabilities, which removes the need to drop anchor during transhipment, eliminating any impact on the ocean floor.  

“We have extensive experience among other in building drilling platforms to the world's most demanding sea conditions. So the construction of the new transport vessel that will face equally challenging conditions in the Antarctica is a project we cannot wait to get started," said Wang Jianzhong, CEO and President of CIMC Raffles.  

A vessel for tough operations  

In addition to minimizing its environmental impact, the vessel is specifically designed and constructed to be able to face the challenging Antarctic conditions head on. 

Wärtsilä, in partnership with Aker BioMarine’s project team are all too aware of the particular needs of the new vessel and are also keen to address many of the particular operational needs encountered with Aker BioMarine’s existing support vessel La Manche.   

The new vessel will also feature a custom cargo handling system from Norwegian supplier Aukra Maritime, which will halve the time it takes to load and unload the processed and packaged krill.  

“The vessel will be constructed in China where there is unique competence for building such large-scale support vessels. The vessel will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology from a number of Norwegian suppliers, many of them who we have great working relationship during building our new krill vessel, Antarctic Endurance.” 

Watch VIDEO from krill to Pill