Challenging conventional thinking in ship design, Stena Bulk
unveiled what it is calling a unique new concept designed not only to meet the
needs of sustainable, carbon-free shipping but also to advance the handling of
wet and dry bulk, improve port operations and incorporate the latest
technologies including semi-autonomous shipping. The InfinityMAX concept, which
is designed to carry both dry and wet cargoes in modular compartments,
incorporates several new core principles that the company believes represent a
paradigm shift in cargo transportation.
Designed to create increased flexibility in response to the
challenges that the global shipping industry will face in the future, the
concept is designed to transport dry bulk, liquid bulk, or liquified gas
products, such as methane, hydrogen, or ammonia. By 2050, Stena Bulk believes
shipping will be challenged by the need to transport energy from areas with
abundant renewable supply to areas with large energy demand. They envision the
traditional bulk category will need to expand to carry hydrogen, methanol,
methane, and ammonia as well as sustainable, edible oils and chemicals, and
carbon dioxide from carbon capture facilities.
In addition to combining multiples types of cargo,
efficiency would be improved through the use of standardized and modular cargo
units that would streamline the loading and transportation of wet and dry bulk
cargoes. Stena Bulk compares the modular cargo units to containers that
revolutionized the intermodal freight trade.
“What we are proposing here is innovative, provocative, and
would radically reshape the way we think about bulk trade, rationalizing two
segments with complimentary expertise into one shipping segment that is ready
for the challenges of the future,” said Erik Hånell, President & CEO, Stena
Bulk. “The application of advanced technologies, including hydrogen fuel and
other efficiency measures, means that this is a vessel concept that proves our
core philosophy that innovation is key to commercial success, given the
challenges that we all face.”
The InfinityMAX concept drives improved world fleet
utilization and the potential for more standardized supply chains. The modular
cargo containers would also reduce the unnecessary environmental impact of
empty tanks being shipped around the world in search of new cargo.
The modular units have also been designed to be able to be
dropped off outside of ports and picked up by tugs, avoiding congestion and
reducing call times dramatically. Each of the InfinityMAX’s cargo units is also
designed to be self-sufficient in terms of their energy use, with wind turbines
and solar panels generating all the electricity needed for internal systems.
The InfinityMAX concept would use hydrogen as a marine fuel
and wind turbines to generate further energy. Collapsible wing sails and a
sharkskin hull have also been incorporated in the concept design to significantly
improve efficiency.
Although the vessels will be crewed for safety and
flexibility reasons, Stena Bulk has designed the InfinityMAX concept to be
semi-autonomous to meet the future demand of efficient operations without
compromising safety. InfinityMAX would also improve crew wellbeing on board,
for a sustainable working environment. As a result, InfinityMAX has the
potential to change the role of onboard crew, with less hard labor and more
focus on monitoring and interaction with operators ashore.
With the right level of matured technologies, Stena Bulk
believes that an InfinityMAX vessel could come into service between 2030 and
2035.