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Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. has developed a 66,000 deadweight tonne (dwt) 'next generation' bulk carrier, which is said to achieve less fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent.

Named the Neo Supramax 66BC, the new ship is a larger version of the company's best selling 56,000 dwt type handymax 56BC bulk carrier, which received over 150 orders.

The development of the ship’s design was preceded by discussions with ship operators and research into more than 600 ports around the world.

The ship is designed to have a wide beam (36 metres) and shallow draft, after Mitsui took into account current trade patterns of 56BCs and the expansion of Panama Canal, which is expected in 2014.

Although the Neo Supramax 66BC is larger than the 56BC, the new vessel is said to achieve less fuel consumption by using Mitsui's newly developed energy-saving hull form.

The 66BC has two specifications - a premium model and a standard model. According to Mitsui, the premium model achieves a CO2 reduction of approximately 21 percent on a tonne, Mitsui said.

The company added that it will continue to develop solutions that meet future SOx and NOx emission limits.