America’s Tropical Shipping orders complete MAN Diesel & Turbo packages
Tropical Shipping, the largest provider of reliable logistics solutions to the Bahamas and Caribbean, has ordered a series of MAN propulsion packages in China to complement an expansion of its vessel fleet, the company said in its press release.
The company has ordered 4 × 1,100-teu container vessels, each equipped with an MAN B&W 6S60ME-C8.5 main engine, complete with TCA66-21 turbocharger and an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) module to achieve Tier III compliance. The propulsion package also features 3 × MAN 6L23/30 Holeby GenSets with MAN TCR14 turbochargers, as well as the latest generation of CP propellers, the VBS1550-5 Mk5, which is a five-bladed design combined with the MAN Alpha rudder-bulb concept.
Tropical Shipping has also ordered 2 × 300-teu container vessels, each powered by 1 × MAN 27/38 engines, with TCR turbochargers. The new vessels are due to enter service from June 2018 on.
MAN Diesel & Turbo initially introduced electronic, fuel injection control on its large bore, ME-C engines, which are a more compact form of their ME-B counterparts. The ME-C range’s electronic controls are characterised by:
fully integrated electronic control
low SFOC
superior performance parameters
appropriate fuel injection pressure and rate shaping at any load
improved emission characteristics
smokeless operation at any load
lower NOx on command.
These advantages are gained by the use of variable, electronically-controlled timing of fuel injection and exhaust valves during operation. Additionally, all software and hardware are upgradable for the lifetime of the engine.
The 23/30 engine is one of MAN Diesel & Turbo’s most successful workhorses, and has a half-century history of operational stability with over 12,000 sales to date. The engine is popular with shipowners for its reliability and ‘forgiving’ service demands.
Applications for the engine include tankers, bulk carriers and product tankers as auxiliary engines. The engine is mostly HFO-driven with gas and marine oil also used in special environmental areas.
The 23/30 engine is optimised for part-load operation, typically at 40-65%, and features an mep that is < 20 bar. As a result, the engine experiences reduced operative stress – compared to its competitors – meaning a decreased demand for spare parts and significantly reduced running costs over its lifetime.
About Tropical Shipping
Tropical Shipping has operated its freight-shipping service between Canada/South Florida and the Caribbean and the Bahamas for over a half-century. The company delivers comprehensive cargo-transportation services, including dry, refrigerated, and less than container load. Currently, with a fleet of 15 vessels, Tropical Shipping provides direct services to Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
