Annual Review
Marine Engineering Progress in 1997
This report gives a summary of the major developments achieved in marine engineering technology in Japan and abroad in 1997 prepared by the Editors Committee of MESJ based on the manuscripts written by the chairmen and members of the research committees.
Each section gives an objective summary of researches, indicates the data showing the present technical level and improvements in production and performance of marine equipment, and introduces new products worthy of special attention.
In writing these articles, the authors specially intended to make only a very brief statement concerning advances in the field of fundamental engineering, to make reference as much as possible to the previously published journals of the related societies for research papers and technical information, and to restrict the introduction of individual products and achievements only to the most representative ones.
The authors express their deep gratitude to the companies for providing them with informations required in compiling this summary.
Contents：
1.General, 2. Diesel Engines, 3. Steam Turbines, 4. Gas Turbines and Turbochargers, 5. Boilers, 6. Shafting System, 7. Auxiliary Machinery and Outfitting works, 8. Deck Machinery, 9. Fuels and Lubricating Oils, 10. Nuclear Ships, 11. Automatic Control, 12. Electronics Technology, 13. Electrical Equipment and System, 14. Ocean Engineering Machinery and Offshore Structures
1. General
1.1 Trend
In the beginning of 1997 a big piece of the wrecked vessel "MS NAKHODKA" reached just off the Japanese coast and astonished Japanese people. This figure deeply impressed us and urged volunteer spirits to save the marine lives from the spilled oil. Also this accident made ourselves to commence the discussion how to reduce the maritime distress. Nevertheless a lot of accidents are reported from all over the world and never seem to cease. On the other hand Japanese people have realized the fact that Japan is surrounded by the ocean where a lot of vessels are frequently going around and we have reassured importance of the sea trade.
In the mid of 1997 deep depression of economies in the south east Asian countries outburst. In those countries including Japan the depreciation of the currency, market stagnation, trade contraction, share market shrinkage etc. were reported. We have already been aware that the framework of the worldwide marine market are going flexible in these years. The crisis in those countries added difficulty for future forecasting in marine field.
Looking through the articles published in the Journal of MESJ we found that the study for reduction of the exhaust gas emission from the marine engines was the most remarkable topic. On the other hand several major ocean developing facilities are constructed, constructing or planned recently in Japanese Shipbuilders after previous hard times of market shrinkage such as huge scale of floating land base (Mega-float), floating production and storage vessel (FPSO), oil rigs so on.
1.2 Order Results2)
The order results in Japan in 1997 was 410 ships and 12,999,000 GT on the Ministry of Transport shipbuilding permission base (ships of 2,500 GT or above or of 90m or above in length). The results account for 102% in the number of ships and 122% in GT, compared with the results in 1996. Domestic ships in- creased to double resulting in 533,000 GT, and exported ships increased by about 20% resulting in 12,466,000 GT, compared with those in 1996. Breakdown by kind of ships shows that cargo ships decreased by 7% resulting in 7,677,000 GT and oil tankers increased to double resulting in 5,295,000 GT.
1.3 Topics
1.3.1 L.P.G. Carrier
The 35,418 cubic meter multipurpose L.P.G. Carrier "BRUGGE VENTURE" was completed and delivered to BLACKBREAD SHIPPING Ltd. in April 1997 at Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.
