#MVIrelandLaunch - M.V. Ireland, yes a vessel named after our country was launched a month ago today and is never too late mention, notably given the newbuild is one of the first dry cargoships ever to be powered by (LNG) liquefied natural gas, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The state of the art 3,600 tons cement-carrier tanker was christened at Ferus Smit's Westerbroek shipyard in the Netherlands, where a jazz band mingled among workers, guests and dignataries.

Despite her name the 110m long newbuild has no connections with the Irish maritime industry. The owners of this second sister along with M.V. Greenland already in service, are JT cement, a joint venture between Erik Thun AB and KG Jebsen Cement (KGJ) of Norway.

M.V. Ireland is registered at the Dutch port of Delfzijl on the Eems estuary and flies that nation's flag. 

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled propulsion system incorporates a pressurised LNG tank positioned in the foreship. By using LNG as maritime fuel, this according to Dutch builder, is by far the most environmental-friendly solution available today.

While sailing on LNG, the vessel will meet the most stringent emission criteria, as well as new norms that might be in place in future.

The ship is equipped with a fully automated cement loading and unloading system, based on the principle of fluidization of cement with compressed air. This system enables the cement to be pumped through a completely closed, thus dust free, piping system to shore facilities.