In 1994 total world crude oil consumption made up 67,2 mln.
barrel-bulks a day that is by 500 thousand more than in 1993. The most part of the
consumption goes to North America and developing countries of Asia. Fifty per cent of all
oil is transported by tankers.
Total DWT of tankers in 1994 was 303,4 mln.t. Twenty per cent of them
have 20 years age, more than 35 per cent - 15...19 year old.
Total DWT 200 thousand t tankers is 146 mln. t Amidst 11 per cent 20
year age and older; 21 per cent have 15...19 year age and only 9 per cent have 5 year age
and less.
At the same time a student has undoubtedly to be trained to modern
achievements in the field of ship power installations and skilled to maintain new technics
in stern marine conditions.
The unification of driving energy for all board devices is one of the
perspective problem bearing a relation to both board power equipment and MBT(E).
System integration is an efficient way to keep the costs at a
reasonable level and still gain the benefits of increased redundancy and safety. The basic
idea is to utilise the once-acquired equipment for more than one purpose.
For a diesel-electric power plant concept this integration could cover,
for example, the following functions: propulsion machinery - electric power; electric
production - central power plant; heat production - central power plant; cargo handling -
electric power; deck machinery - electric power.
The principle and possibilities of system integration are clearly seen
especially in a shuttle tanker of 125 000 DWT. The ship is designed as a crude oil shuttle
tanker for the North Sea. She is of a single-screw double-hull type with 27 cargo tanks
with a minimum of two segregations. Cargo pumps are located in a separate pump room.
In addition to extensive system integration, the aim for a short ship
and thus a cheaper hull was set for the development task. In this case a hull with fixed
breadth and draught and 6.4m shorter than is possible with conventional machinery was
developed for the diesel-electric concept.
The conventional concept with slow-speed engine was developed into a
new solution where the plant consists of four main diesel generators, each rated for 5 430
kW. One additional 810 kW genset was provided for harbour use.
