First commercial Techno Superliner Ogasawara launched

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) has launched the first commercial marine transport based on Techno Superliner (TSL) technology at MES Tamano Shipyard. The Super Liner Ogasawara, a 14,500GT passenger/ cargo ship, is the next generation of high-speed marine transports. The ship will enter service on the Ogasawara route extending for 1,000km between Tokyo and Chichi Jima of the Ogasawara Islands. The hybrid will operate both as cargo and cruise ships, because of the specific of construction. The collaborative study on the Techno Superliner between Japanese shipbuilders and the government was started to develop the next generation of high-speed commercial ships capable of navigating open seas in 1989, and ended in 1995. The TSL was selected as a Millennium Project of the government, and Techno-Seaways Inc. was incorporated in June 2002 to order construction of the Super Liner Ogasawara. This TSL consists of a catamaran type hull made of aluminum alloy, two propulsion units of water jets driven by gas turbines, and four power units to drive eight fans for lifting the ship by air cushioning on the sea surface. Combined use of the water jet propulsion and air cushion systems permit the ship to glide over the sea surface at a speed of 70km/h (nearly 40 knots). The ship was launched in November 2004, and outfitting of interiors and instruments is now under way at the Tamano Shipyard. Completion is scheduled for end of October this year. The Super Liner Ogasawara is ranked among the largest high-speed aluminum alloy ships worldwide. Upon completion, the navigation time required for the route will be reduced by nine or ten hours compared with 25 hours at present. This means a considerable increase in the number of voyages a year and it is expected to greatly contribute to improving convenience of the people living in the islands and to increasing the number of tourists. This project is now proceeding under the guidance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the whole project management including ship construction and navigational operation. The development of this project is supported by the Japan Railway Construction, Maritime Transport and Ships Opperating and the Nippon Foundation.