Improved Container Transshipment Utilising Low Carbon Feeder Ships

Investigation of feeder ships worldwide has identified South East Asian and the Caribbean as transshipment markets open to feeder ship replacement with a need for improved operational efficiency. In response to this challenge an environmentally sustainable feeder-container ship concept has been developed for the 2020 container market. The concept utilises higher speed and larger capacity than typical feeder ships, whilst halving the fleet size. The use of low-carbon and zero-sulphur fuel (liquefied natural gas) and improvements in operational efficiency (cargo handling and scheduling) mean predicted Greenhouse gas emissions should fall by 42% and 40% in the two selected operational regions. The predicted daily cost savings are respectively 27% and 33% in South East Asian and the Caribbean. A Multi-wing sail system also contributes to these savings whilst providing the additional benefit of motion damping. Propulsion and manoeuvrability is provided through a contra-rotating podded drive. Performance predictions have been made based on physical testing of both hull form and sail system. Use of ship-borne gantry cranes and the podded based manoeuvrability permit reduced times in port, thus improving operational efficiency. A typical round trip voyage has been simulated taking into account: realistic wind and wave environment data; physical model testing data and a representative operational profile including port operations. The fast feeder-container ship is a proposed as a viable future method of container transshipment.