300,000 DWT Oremax Bulk Carrier Grande Progresso
The 300,000DWT type ore carrier GRANDE PROGRESSO was delivered to a Kawasaki Kisen’s 100% owned foreign subsidiary at the Ariake Shipyard of Universal Shipbuilding Corporation on May 30. The ship-owner has large number of ships from this type, but this one is really one of the largest ever built. The GRANDE PROGRESSO is the first very large ore carrier for exclusively loading at Brazil and unloading at Villanueva*, Philippines for JFE Steel Corporation of Japan. The vessel is the first Unimax Ore carrier optimized to have the largest capacity of the 300,000DWT class to enter major iron ore loading ports in western Australia. The hull form is designed to be the most suitable for very deep waters at both Villanueva and Brazil, the largest iron ore shipping country. Adequate hull strength is provided to be applicable to various loading facilities, andevery cargo hold is equipped withthe world’s largest single panel hatch cover to facilitate cargo handling. With energy saving devices  developed by Universal, the vessel could dramatically improve propulsive efficiency, decreasing fuel consumption compared with the conventional large ore carrier. Universal will flexibly and actively respond to the diversifying needs in transport of steel material, amidst expected future expansion in marine transport  riggered by global increase in demand for iron ore.

Large Bulk Carrier Sanko Mineral
Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (large cargo ships and some cruise ships builder) delivered the 50,700DW type box shaped bulk carrier, SANKO MINERAL, on June 20, 2008. This type of ship is named the J-OPEN Type Bulk Carrier. The ship has eight cargo holds of the open hatch type and is equipped with four jib cranes instead gantry cranes. The ship features are represented by efficient and quick loading/unloading of a variety of cargoes, such as wooden pulp, packaged lumber, hot coils, containers, grains, ore, coal, sulfur, and other bale and bulk cargoes. Cargo holds with complete square hatch corners and flush bulkhead surfaces can achieve smooth handling of unitized cargoes. A dehumidifier system is installed to keep special cargo dry, e.g., wooden pulp, roll paper, etc. Large capacity 40t jib-type deck cranes and Freely Hi-Lift Type piggyback hatch covers reduces the time required for loading and unloading. In addition, each hatch cover is designed to open and close with free sequence to decrease opening and closing duration.  The vessel also has the following Oshima technologies to save fuel oil consumption and GHG. The Seaworthy Bow of excellent seaworthiness is adopted to improve  speed performance in rough weather conditions. (about 5% power saving at head sea compared with ordinary bulbous bow). Flipper Fins, which are a set of fins of the simplest structure, are adopted to improve propulsive efficiency. Fuel oil saving more than 4% is possible. High-Lift Rudder composed of the Schilling rudder and rotary vane type steering gear is mounted to improve the maneuverability and course keeping stability. Tghe technology was tested first on small boats and yachts, but later introduced in ship-building.