Gypsum Transportation Ltd, based in Bermuda, operates a number of gravity self-unloading bulk carriers operating between Nova Scotia and the US East Coast. Gypsum Transportation is a subsidiary of USG Corporation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of gypsum wallboard, and transports some 2.5 million tonnes of gypsum each year.

The 47,950 dwt Gypsum Centennial is a double-hulled, ice-strengthened bulk carrier equipped with gravity type self-unloading gear. In addition to gypsum for USG, the Gypsum Centennial transports a wide variety of other bulk cargoes for third parties.

Wärtsilä solution
Ordered in 2000 the ship is equipped with the first Sulzer RT-flex engine – the world’s first low-speed diesel engine with electronically controlled common-rail fuel injection. This new concept brings useful benefits in terms of running costs, extendable times between overhauls, reduced exhaust emissions and very slow, steady running.

“We wanted to put an RT-flex engine in our new vessel due to its favourable exhaust emission characteristics,” said Roger A. Farge, managing director of Gypsum Transportation. “One of our main underlying criteria throughout the design phase of this vessel has been to build an ‘environmentally friendly’ ship in accordance with the main USG group’s rationale. In this respect the RT-flex engine is a perfect partner, not only giving obvious benefits such as lower exhaust emissions, but due to its superior efficiency especially at non-optimum speeds its use will result in an overall decrease in fuel oil consumption. This of course means a direct reduction in all exhaust pollutants over the lifetime of the vessel.”