<span>Propulsion and future fuels</span>

Wärtsilä has launched an energy-saving device that has demonstrated fuel savings of up to 10%. The EnergoFlow is a pre-swirl stator that reduces power losses in the propeller’s slipstream by optimising flow. It works by guiding one side of the stern flow in the opposite direction of the propeller rotation. A typical ship’s hull will...

A data analytics programme applied to the design of two new Hapag-Lloyd Cruises passenger expedition ships, currently under construction at the Vard Shipyard in Romania and Norway, has resulted in projected annual fuel savings of more than ten per cent, the company says. DNV GL began working with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises during the initial design and...

Marine coatings manufacturer, Hempel, has selected the unique antifouling ingredient, Selektope, for use in its latest product. Selektope is an organic, non-mental compound that repels barnacles from ships’ hulls by temporarily stimulating their receptors. This renders them unable to attach themselves to the hull or other surface of a ship. According to the Swedish company...

Caterpillar Marine has launched a new Multi-Engine Optimizer (MEO) tool, which uses proprietary performance data and control algorithms to provide intelligence for power management systems, which can be applied to improving fuel efficiency by more precisely balancing engine loads. MEO advises the power management systems on which engines should be operating in a particular situation,...

Shell Marine has launched a high base number two-stroke cylinder oil that claims to drive optimum engine performance. Shell Alexia 140 provides shipowners and operators with the ability to protect their engines against cold corrosion to maximum operational performance. It also gives them the opportunity to optimise feed rates across vessel operating conditions. Alexia 140...

Fujitsu Laboratories reports that it has completed trials of a new ship performance estimation technology system with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Ube Shipping & Logistics, used to predict voyage parameters such as ship speed and fuel consumption to optimise routing and save on fuel. The company says that the trials have demonstrated an estimated...

Coatings manufacturer, Hempel, has launched a new antifouling coating that claims to reduce vessel speed loss by 2.5%, significantly lowering fuel consumption and emissions. The Globic 9500M (maintenance) and Globic 9500S (static) coatings have been developed using nano acrylate technology that brings biocides to the surface of the hull to ensure a smooth and no-friction...

Monaco-based GasLog LNG Services has signed a remote maintenance and optimisation agreement with Wärtsilä, covering eight LNG carriers operating on Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines. The agreement consists of Dynamic Maintenance Planning (DMP), technical support, secured availability of spare parts and specialised technical personnel around the clock as well as constant performance monitoring. Wärtsilä’s digital services will...

DNV GL has introduced a new ‘Virtual Trial’ application, using simulated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data to analyse, compare and benchmark the fuel efficiency of different hull designs before they are constructed. The results are made available within one week, DNV GL says, via a web-based report where users can see the CFD results and...

Navis has added a new Hull Monitor module to its fleet performance management software Bluetracker, to be used to track degradation in hull performance resulting from self-polishing, fouling or damage. The software uses speed loss calculations and visualisations to monitor changes, taking into account corrections required by other influencing factors such as weather, in accordance...

ClassNK has released the latest version of PrimeShip-HULL for Container Carriers, its structural design support software for container ships. The application consists of prescriptive calculation software and direct strength assessment functionality. The prescriptive calculation software enables designers to perform assessments for structural strength requirements such as yield strength and fatigue strength assessments, as specified in...

NYK and DNV GL have presented the first results of an ongoing maritime data centre pilot project involving the companies, which collects operational data from NYK vessels on DNV GL’s recently launched Veracity data platform to monitor vessel performance and support condition-based maintenance. The collaboration between NYK and DNV GL, supported by engine manufacturer MAN...