APL bags Green Ship of the Year award

APL clinched the inaugural Green Ship of the Year award at the 2013 International Maritime Awards organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore here this evening.

The APL Yangshan, a 10,700 TEU container ship built in 2012 currently plying the Asia-Europe trade, was singled out for its outstanding energy efficiency and performance.

“We are very honored to be presented the award, and to be accorded strong industry recognition of the environmental benchmark that APL has set,” said Kenneth Glenn, APL President. “In an industry where bunker fuel is a big part of operational costs, and at a time when fuel costs are expected to remain high, it is imperative that we continue with our efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of our ships in order to remain competitive while providing our customers with quality service.”

APL Yangshan is part of the company’s fleet renewal program that aims to inject technologically-advanced, fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly tonnage into APL’s global container fleet. The vessel has an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) that is 33% better than the International Maritime Organisation’s EEDI reference line for this type and size of ship.

The superior environmental features of APL Yangshan include an electronically-controlled main engine that has a significant advantage in operating capability. This type of engine consumes less fuel compared to conventional engines for a corresponding load and helps lower emissions. The vessel is cold-iron capable, which allows it to connect to shore power while at berth in order to reduce emissions. It is also equipped with an advanced ballast water treatment system to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The Green Ship of the Year Award is a new category introduced at the Singapore International Maritime Awards this year. It recognizes Singapore-flagged vessels that adopt energy-efficient ship designs in order to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The winner of the Green Ship Award is selected based on its energy efficiency performance. < Korea Shipping Gazette >