Bubbling Technique reduces Bunker Costs

Silverstream Technologies and Shell say they have conducted a successful sea trial of a new fuel-saving technique that funnels bubbles around a ship’s hull.
The tests have been independently verified by Lloyd’s Register and showed “net energy efficiency savings” in all cases, they added. The system has been installed on the 40,000-dwt Amalienborg (built 2004), a products tanker owned by Denmark’s Dannebrog Rederi. The trials demonstrated energy efficiency savings of 4.3% and 3.8% for the vessel in ballast and laden conditions, respectively.
“Based on the trials both Silverstream and Shell believe that a fully optimised system has potential to deliver more than 5% efficiency savings on an ongoing basis when deployed on a full-bodied vessel with a large flat bottom,” they said.
The system produces a thin layer of micro bubbles that creates a single “air carpet” for the flat bottom of the ship, reducing frictional resistance between the water and hull. It can be fitted to a newbuilding, or added to an existing ship in two weeks.