CHINA's Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has delivered the first of eight 16,000 TEU dual-fuel ships to Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), reports Athens' Container News.

The Liberian-flagged box ship, MSC Maria Cristina, has been fitted with a 13,000 cbm type B liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tank, the 'biggest of its kind' in the world'. The ship boasts a length of 366 metres, a width of 51 metres and a depth of 30.2 metres.

As disclosed, the vessel embraces a new design concept centred on 'safety, economy, and environmental responsibility'. The fuel tank is made of nine per cent nickel steel - a 'vital' self-developed technology that DSIC said 'closed a critical technology gap' in China.

To meet global emission standards, the main engine was built using green technologies, such as the iCER-Diesel system, and an exhaust gas economiser - a type of heat exchanger that re-uses the marine engine exhaust gas to preheat feed water or to generate steam. This is believed to improve ship efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

The iCER system, which stands for Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling, was created by Swiss marine power company WinGD. It represents an 'improved' emissions reduction technology, particularly for dual-fuel engines like the X-DF series.

The system cuts down on harmful emissions by regulating air and exhaust gas flow by cooling and recirculating part of the exhaust fumes back into the engine, allowing for more efficient combustion and 'significantly less' pollution.

Owing to the optimisation process and energy-saving measures installed on the box ship, like its pre-propeller power-saving device, MSC Maria Cristina's energy efficiency design index (EEDI) is reportedly 65.5 per cent lower than the baseline.

CSSC's subsidiary Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) also completed the installation of the 1,200-ton Type B LNG fuel tank on board a 16,000 TEU dual-fuel containership being built for MSC.

This vessel is one part of MSC's major fleet renewal efforts. In August, the company revealed that it had signed agreements for up to 18 new box ships, all to be powered by LNG. Among those, six will be built at the Chinese shipyard Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), with the remaining 12 slated for construction at China's Penglai Jinglu.

As per data from London-based provider VesselsValue, at present, MSC has six 16,000-TEU neopanamax ships ordered and to be built by CSSC's Tianjin Shipbuilding.