Fednav MÉDIA
Article paru dans :
Canadian Transportation & Logistics
Le 9 juin 2011
Fednav brings first of three green ships to Great Lakes
HAMILTON, Ont. -- Fednav Group has invested in three new state-of-the-art vessels to trade on the Great Lakes-Seaway System.
The first of these ships, the MV Federal Yukina, arrived at Federal Marine Terminals in Hamilton this week from Japan, carrying industrial slag, a material used in steel production. The vessel, which was delayed by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, travelled to Australia and transited the Panama Canal to then call at New Orleans and Baltimore, before reaching Hamilton. It will load cargo in Hamilton destined for Mobile, Ala.
The new ship was welcomed today in a special gift-exchange ceremony between Hamilton Port Authority officials and Fednav executives.
The Federal Yukina, built in Japan in 2010, adds capacity to Fednav's fleet of Seaway-sized bulk carriers that regularly transport cargo from overseas, such as steel and specialized cargo into the Great Lakes while shipping US and Canadian grain, along with other bulk material, to foreign markets. The second and third vessels of the series will arrive in the Great Lakes in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Fednav Group is the largest ocean-going user of the St. Lawrence Seaway, with an average of 100 trips each year.
"We're increasing the capacity of our fleet in the Great Lakes as we believe there are opportunities in the region, and are very positive about the long-term significance of the St. Lawrence Seaway," said Paul Pathy, president and co-CEO of Fednav Group. "It remains the most economical and environmentally friendly way to move bulk cargo to and from the North American heartland."
Officials say the Federal Yukina has been built with the latest technology, which brings a number of environmental benefits:
-It's 12% more fuel efficient than Fednav's previous class of ships, saving 770 tonnes of fuel per year, while preventing the emissions of 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide;
-It's equipped with Tier II engines, which reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions;
-It incorporates more powerful ballast pumps and enough space to enable the installation of ballast water treatment equipment. This equipment, which will be installed once the US Coast Guard sets the standard and type approval of equipment for the cold water of the Great Lakes, will further reduce the risk of introducing invasive species. To help facilitate this process, Fednav will be testing a new ballast water treatment system on one of its vessels in the Great Lakes this year.
"The environment is one of our top priorities when we consider the design of a new vessel. It is important to us and also to our customers that our vessels are as fuel efficient as possible. This fuel efficiency, along with new engine technology, significantly reduces air emissions," Pathy said.
