New bulk carrier christened

THE BULK DIVISION OF THE CHINA Navigation Company, Swire Bulk, has taken delivery of its new, log-fitted bulk carrier into service. MV Singan could be seen from NZ shores before long, as it trades worldwide with a strong focus on the log trade in the Pacific and South Atlantic.

MV Singan embarked on her maiden voyage at the end of April for Busan. Rob Aarvold, General Manager, Swire Bulk, says the vessel is designed for optimal speed and consumption at 12.5 knots in the laden condition. The eco-efficiency additions of the rudder bulb, wake fin and pre-swirl will improve vessel hull efficiency, he says.

Along with the high level of structural stability required for log carriage, the vessel is installed with the latest solid state radar equipment.

MV Singan is the first ship delivered in a wider order of 10 bulk vessels to be built in Japan. The remaining vessels are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021.

“Swire Bulk’s new building programme will enable us to strategically deliver the largest and most eco-friendly fleet trading in the market,” says Mr Aarvold.

“Having these log-fitted new buildings on water will strengthen Swire Bulk’s position in the log market as one of the world’s largest handy size logger fleets,” he adds.

The vessel was named in February 2020 by Mrs Kaori Imoto, the wife of John Swire & Sons Board Director, Jonathan Swire. The ship was named after a “beancaker” built for The China Navigation Company for the China coast trade in 1890. She was the third vessel in a series of 18 ships built to transport soya bean, bean oil and beancake between Chinese ports.

MV Sungkiang, MV Singan’s sister vessel, is being built at the same shipyard scheduled for delivery in June 2020.

NZL