Gibdock Shipyard and Armada Technologies Ltd. have signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the integration of Armada’s air lubrication system into vessels serviced by Gibdock.
The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both organisations to provide more energy-efficient solutions for vessels. According to the terms of the MoU, Gibdock and Armada Technologies will jointly explore potential installations of Passive Air Lubrication System (PALS) on vessels, under license from Armada Technologies.
Signing this MoU is a significant milestone in our mission to promote sustainable shipping practices. We are excited to collaborate with Armada Technologies to continue to bring innovative, energy-efficient solutions to our clients.
… said Simon Gillett, CEO of Balaena Ltd, Gibdock’s owners.
What is air lubrication?
Air lubrication describes the deployment of a uniform carpet of air to lower the frictional resistance between the hull of a vessel and the water. This leads to a natural phenomenon called ‘shearing’, where the interaction of water and air in the air release units (ARUs) generates a carpet of microbubbles that covers the full length of the flat bottom of a vessel.
This cooperation includes technical and commercial support from Armada to ensure successful implementation.
PALS has the potential to transform the way vessels operate, making them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective by using less fuel. We look forward to working with Gibdock to offer our second-generation system to more vessels.
… commented Armada Technologies’ CEO, Alex Routledge.