An oil
carrier the size of nearly three football fields has been delivered to its new
owner in northeast China. It is the first “smart” carrier in the world, and has
a loading capacity of 308,000 tons.
The main
feature of the vessel ‘New Journey,’ which belongs to the very large crude
carrier (VLCC) type, is an installed “intelligent” system, according to Chinese
media. The 300-meter-long tanker boasts assisted autopilot navigation,
intelligent liquid cargo management, and integrated energy efficiency
management, among other functions.
The oil tanker became the latest addition to the large fleet of China
Merchants Energy Shipping Company and was delivered to the coastal city of
Dalian on Saturday. The ‘New Journey’ was constructed by China’s largest
shipbuilding company, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), part of China
Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
The vessel has already successfully finished its sea trial, as well as
other tests, including intelligent equipment and system testing.
“At present, countries around the world
are actively promoting intelligent navigation and developing intelligent
technologies for ships, which plays an important role in improving maritime
traffic safety, energy conservation, emission reduction and economic
efficiency,” said Vice Chief Engineer of DSIC Guan Yinghua, as
cited by China News Service website.
Source: RT