At the start of September, the all-new car carrier ship Turquoise Ace arrived at Bristol Port from Hiroshima, Japan on its maiden commercial voyage. Delivering 744 cars to Mazda UK ready for the peak sales month of September, the voyage was also notable because of the all-new vessel’s environmental credentials.
A leading example of modern maritime innovation, the Turquoise Ace was delivered to Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) in summer 2024 and it features a host of advanced technologies aimed at reducing emissions and environmental impact. The standout being its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system that significantly reduces emissions compared to traditional fuel oil powered vessels.
The duel-fuel LNG engine cuts C02 emissions by 25-30%, NOx emissions by 85% and SOx emissions by 98%. Additionally, the vessel’s design incudes a beveled top bow, which enhances aerodynamic efficiency by reducing wind resistance by up to 20%, improving fuel efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of the ship’s operations.
Commenting on the vessel’s arrival, Mazda Motors UK, Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson, said: “this time of year it’s always exciting to see vessels arriving packed with new cars for our customers. Seeing these deliveries to our dealers in this peak sales month is a great visual representation of the hard work of our dealer partners and the team here at Mazda UK”. Adding, “the use of MOL’s new car carrier vessel is a great example of Mazda Corporation’s work to reduce the environmental impact of our cars, both with our multi-solution approach to electrification and efficient combustion engines, and the reduction of emissions across production and delivery. So, it was great that the Turquoise Ace’s first commercial voyage included a large delivery of cars to us here at Mazda UK to make up part of a busy on target sales month for us.”
Notes for Editors
The Turquoise Ace measures 199.93m in length, with a moulded beam of 38m and a depth of 22.8m. It has a gross tonnage of 77,965 and a carrying capacity of 7,033 cars. The propulsion system features a Mitsui-MAN 6S60ME-C10.5-GI main engine with a rated output of 10,800kW (14,500 hp) at 100 rpm, supplemented by four generators that also utilise boil-off gas from the LNG tanks, ensuring efficient energy use throughout long voyages.
The Turquoise Ace is equipped with wider ramps and adjustable deck heights to accommodate various vehicle sizes, including taller vehicles like trailers and buses. This flexibility enhances the safety and efficiency of loading and unloading operations. Furthermore, the vessel is prepared for the future installation of an AI-based fire detection system, which uses strategically placed cameras to detect abnormalities early, thus minimising fire risks.
For more information on MOL please contact: https://www.mol.co.jp/en/
