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Dutch shipping group Mercurius Shipping has recently launched a new concept for a clean inland waterway cargo vessel, called the "M-factor", which will be installed with a highly fuel efficient engine.

A prototype of the M-Factor will be built at the Mercurius Shipping's yard in Begej and is expected to be ready in May 2011.

The vessel will be powered by Volvo Penta marine diesel engines both for propulsion and bowthruster. It will be 85 metres long, 9, 6 metres wide and have a load capacity of 1500 tonnes - a relatively small ship with an exceptionally large cargo hold.

Due to the size of the ship, the M-Factor will be able to sail in almost all European inland waterways. Since it has been developed to mainly travel in smaller channels and rivers, Mercurius will use the Volvo Penta D16-750 hp as its propulsion engine. Normally a ship of this size would be equipped with at least 1.000 hp.

Mercurius has been searching for the most fuel efficient engine at part load. The Volvo Penta D16 will operate at part load for around 80%-90% of running time and was selected as the main propulsion engine after performing well in comparison tests with other engines in the same power range.

To reduce emissions further, the engine will also be equipped with the STT Emtec SCR and POC system. Using the SCR system is said to reduce NOx by a further 70-90% and the POC filter is reported to reduce the particulate matter (PM) by 40%.

Mercurius plans to build at least 4-6 ships per year depending on the success of the M-Factor model.

The contract for the second ship has already been given to the Volvo Penta Center Terlouw in Rotterdam. They will deliver the D16-750 main propulsion engine, Twin Disk gearbox TD-5170 and SCR system as a complete package to Mercurius Shipping.

In addition to the Volvo Penta D16 engine, a Volvo Penta D12-400 will be installed as the thruster engine.

A vessel summary has been provided below.

Shipyard: Mercurius Shipping Group

Vessel: Cargo vessel for inland waterways

Length: 85M

Beam: 9.60M

Draft: 2.80M

Displacement: 1500T (2.050M³)

Engines: Volvo Penta D16MH-750HP @ 1900rpm.

Reverse Gear: TD-5170

Thruster: Volvo Penta D12MH-400 HP @ 1800rpm