NYK and MTI, along with ABS and WinGD, have started joint research for optimization of ship design by using a battery-hybrid system to help ship propulsion and reduce GHG emissions from vessels.
The battery-hybrid system is a mechanism that reduces the burden that the shaft generator places on the main engine.
The system supplies electricity from the battery when the load on the main engine fluctuates. As a result, the power that the ship can use for its propulsion can be increased, and the operation of the main engine thus becomes more efficient.
In addition, the use of the battery-hybrid system will lead to a reduction of GHG emissions since instead of a generator, which requires oil, it can supply electricity for the operation of onboard equipment during daily operations.
In this joint research, NYK, MTI, ABS, and WinGD aim to create a simulation model of ships by combining the modeling technologies of each company to maximize GHG emission reduction through use of this battery-hybrid system.
Specifically, an integrated model of an entire ship will be created by combining NYK and MTI’s modeling technologies for actual sea performance and WinGD’s modeling technology for engine plants that include batteries.
Then, using ABS’s advice on the evaluation of the effect of GHG reduction, NYK, MTI and WinGD will jointly design a ship in digital space and together with ABS conduct simulations of navigation using a scenario that assumes meteorological conditions in actual seas.
This joint research is an epoch-making initiative in the maritime industry that has the ship users, NYK and MTI, collaborating with the marine equipment manufacturer WinGD and with the advice of the marine classification society ABS develop a digital model of a ship, perform simulations, and build a ship
said NYK.
In the future, NYK and MTI, together with ABS, WinGD, and shipyards, will improve the accuracy of the simulation by comparing the simulation results, obtained through the joint research, with the performance data of actual ships in actual seas.
NYK and MTI will also use simulations to improve the method of operation and control of the battery-hybrid system. This joint research is the first step for such future-aiming initiatives.
