Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled its new ‘Super-Efficient Bulker’ vessel design concept, developed along with Deltamarin.
This design promises fuel cost savings of 40-50% depending on operational conditions, addressing a critical industry requirement. The concept is based on retrofitting a Kamsarmax bulker of 82,000 DWT, leveraging advanced energy-saving technologies. Key innovations include:
- Hybrid wind technology: Utilizes three tiltable rotor sails and two suction wing sails to maximize wind power utilization, adapting to varying wind conditions for optimal performance.
- Air lubrication system: Traps air bubbles beneath the hull to reduce frictional resistance, enhanced by an innovative hull form with a 1-degree slope from bow to stern and vertically turned bilge keels.
- Slow steaming: Operates at reduced speeds to achieve significant savings in fuel, emissions, and maintenance costs, balancing efficiency with operational needs.
- Hybrid shaft generator with frequency control: Optimizes electrical power usage and reduces emissions, supporting increased electric load from wind propulsion and air lubrication systems.
- Intelligent Energy Management System (iEMS) and Route Optimization: Ensures optimal energy use and enhances fuel efficiency, reducing operational costs through smart management of onboard resources.
- Hull skater: Maintains hull cleanliness and minimizes resistance, contributing to low fuel consumption during operations.
Ship owners face significant challenges in meeting tighter regulations. While low-carbon fuels are an option, many prefer to stick with conventional fuels. Our goal was to design a vessel capable of complying with predicted CII regulations throughout its lifetime, using advanced energy-saving technologies.
… said Oskar Levander, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Kongsberg Maritime
As John N. Cotzias, Projects & Finance, Xclusiv Shipbrokers, had explained during the during the 2024 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, “By integrating these advancements, the shipping industry can achieve notable improvements in fuel efficiency without the risk of great uncertainty that lies ahead and without breaking the bank.“
