Swedish shipowner Brostroem Tankers AB has ordered four 14 500dwt product and chemical tankers from China's Jingling Shipyard, following the conclusion of lengthy conceptual discussions to ensure that the vessels comply with DNV's environmental rules.

These vessels will be the first newbuildings to be designed in accordance with the classification society's environmental 'Clean Design' class notation.

The twin rudder/twin screw ships, which go beyond current IMO requirements for tanker safety, comply with the Clean Design notation requirements for the protected location of oil tanks, emission of air and water, capacity of specific equipment and documentation of systems as well as operational procedures. They also fulfil DNV requirements for its 'RP' notation due to the ships' redundant propulsion arrangements, which include diesel engines and the ships' fuel systems.

All six diesel engines will be fitted with catalysts for NOX reduction by urea injection in the diesel exhaust lines. This will make it possible to reduce NOX emissions by 98 percent, and combined with use of low sulphur fuel, the contribution to acid rain will be negligible compared to conventional ships.

In addition, the vessels will also meet with requirements on noise levels - an environmental issue of increasing concern as the ships will spend 50 percent of their time in ports and terminal adjacent to urban areas.

As the vessels will be operating in the harshest of marine environments, the navigational equipment will also feature redundant functions and be arranged to optimise safe operational performance.

"One important way to reduce the likelihood of pollution is to avoid accidents, and to reduce consequences from accidents and this is what the Clean Design notation sets out to achieve," says Jan-Olof Groenhult, DNV's maritime marketing manager in Sweden.

"DNV has had several other Swedish shipowners interested in fulfilling this voluntary class notation, however, this is the first that one has gone all the way to an actual order," adds Mr Groenhult.


For further information about the
Clean Design class notation, contact: Jan.Olof.Gronhult@dnv.com

Date: 2004-06-02