ABB Turbocharging powers new-gen of ultra-large containerships

The OOCL Hong Kong is the latest in long line of record-breaking containerships to feature turbochargers from ABB Turbocharging. With a 21,413 TEU container capacity, the vessel became the world’s largest containership when it was christened at a ceremony held in May at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard on Geoje Island, Korea. The 400m ship has regularly turned heads at port calls on its maiden voyage.

OOCL chairman Mr C C Tung gave an insight as to the vessel’s significance to the shipowner in remarks made at its handover ceremony. “Facing increasing competition and unremitting pressure on costs, we need to take the bold step in operating larger ships to stay relevant and compete effectively as a major container shipping company,” he said. “The OOCL Hong Kong will be a titan among containerships at sea.”

The OOCL Hong Kong is first vessel in the world to cross the 21,000 TEU mark, surpassing the Madrid Maersk and the Munich Maersk (both 20,568 TEU) and the MOL Triumph (20,170 TEU). While it holds the ‘world’s largest’ title at the moment, industry analysts believe it is only a matter of time until OOCL Hong Kong’s record is broken by a yet larger vessel.

ABB has long been associated with the world’s largest containerships. Turbocharging bearing the company’s marque can be found on the main engines of most containerships larger than 19,000 TEU built in the last three years, beginning with the 19,100 TEU CSCL Globe launched in late 2014. The Globe did not retain its number one ranking for long. Just two months later it was overtaken by the 19,224 TEU MSC Oscar.

To boost engine efficiency and operational flexibility, both the Globe and Oscar were equipped with ABB’s A180-L. Featuring high efficiencies, high pressure ratios and exceptionally wide compressor maps, the A180-L is part of a series of advanced single-stage turbochargers from ABB designed to give operators of low-speed two-stroke marine engines unprecedented levels of efficiency, whilst complying with IMO Tier II and III emissions regulations.

ABB’s track record in the ultra large container ship segment was extended in June 2017, with the disclosure that the largest containership ever built in China – the 20,000 TEU vessel named COSCO Shipping Taurus –  will feature ABB turbochargers for its main and auxiliary engines. Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (SWS), Taurus is the first of 11 identical ships for COSCO Shipping Lines whose main engines will be equipped with three A180-L units, with four auxiliary engines each be fitted with a four-stroke TPL67-C turbocharger.

The wide compressor maps across the A100-L and A200-L range allow operators to switch between a standard rating for normal vessel cruising speeds and a reduced rating for fuel saving slow steaming simply by changing only the number of turbochargers in use. Meanwhile the A100-M turbochargers installed on the OOCL Hong Kong’s auxiliary engines are designed specifically for HFO-burning medium-speed, four-stroke engines, offering pressure ratios as high as 5.8 and turbocharging efficiencies up to 65%.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company has since taken delivery of 15 vessels of broadly the same specification as the Oscar, bearing out a belief in the industry that bigger is still better. Elsewhere vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs are understood to be on the drawing board.