A SHIPOWNER'S COMMENTS ON STEAM PROPULSION

This paper discusses the likely influences on the future competitiveness of steam propulsion. Whilst slow speed diesel propulsion has had a clear economic advantage since the high fuel cost increase in 1973, it will not necessarily maintain this position in the long term. The main influencing factors, apart from future price increases, are the available fuel quality and type of ships to be built. Future tonnage requirements are likely to vary widely in type but large scale building of mammoth vessels is not foreseen in the near future in the sensitive shipping market. Great uncertainty exists with the quality of fuel available but while steam turbines and slow speed diesels are competing on the basis of the same fuel viscosity then the diesel will maintain its position. However, it is believed that, in the long term, i.e. 1985 onwards, the diesel may not be able to compete in the higher power range if heavier viscosity and lower quality residual fuel becomes more prevalent.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03093948
• Supplemental Notes:
  • From "Steam Propulsion for Ships in the Changing Economic Environment," a two day conference.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Marine Engineers

  Memorial Building, 76 Mark Lane
  London EC3R 7JN,   England 
• Authors:
  • McConochie, N H
  • Jones, M V
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 7-14
• Serial:
  • Institute of Marine Engineers Transactions
  • ISSN: 0309-3948

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boilers; Costs; Economic analysis; Electric power plants; Equipment maintenance; Fuel composition; Fuels; Machinery; Operating costs; Propulsion; Reliability; Steam turbines; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fuel costs; Fuel quality
• Old TRIS Terms: Competitive propulsion systems; Economic analysis (Steam turbines); Power plant selection; Propulsion machinery; Steam turbine maintenance; Steam turbine propulsion
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Finance; Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00310879
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Series C, Paper SP4 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1980 12:00AM