Norwegian class society DNV GL says the world's first intelligent very large ore carrier (iVLOC) has been delivered in China.
The 400,000-dwt Pacific Vision was handed over by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard (SWS) to China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) this week.
The vessel is the first VLOC to implement DNV GL’s SmartShip descriptive notation, it said.
To qualify, the bulker has been outfitted with an integration platform, a smart navigation decision support system, a ship energy efficiency management and optimisation system, and a smart-vessel operation and maintenance system.
“It’s a great honour to have worked with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, China Merchant Energy Shipping Company, and SDARI to develop the world’s first iVLOC,” said Norbert Kray, DNV GL’s regional manager for greater China.
“With the SmartShip notation, we wanted to give customers a platform to clearly present the new technologies they were utilising to optimise performance, enhance safety, and minimise their environmental impact."
The vessel will operate between Brazil and Asia, and will very likely also be deployed for the Brazil and Europe trade.
