Kongsberg Maritime unveils fuel-efficient bulker design

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled its fuel-efficient vessel bulker design concept. According to the company’s analysis, the vessel will reduce fuel costs by more than half compared to a vessel equipped with only conventional technology.

Sustainable design

Collaborating with ship designer Deltamarin, Kongsberg Maritime explored various technologies to enhance the efficiency of the Kamsarmax. The new vessel concept is based on a combination of three tiltable rotor sails and two suction wing sails. This dual approach reportedly maximizes wind power utilization, adapting to varying wind conditions to ensure optimal performance.

Kongsberg Maritime has devised a hull form that will trap bubbles from an air lubrication system to maximize the effects of resistance reduction. A patent application has been made to implement this concept. By trapping air bubbles beneath the hull, the system significantly reduces frictional resistance. The inclined hull, with a 1° slope from bow to stern, and vertically turned bilge keels create ‘walls’ to keep the bubbles in place, enhancing fuel savings.

The vessel operates at a reduced speed, to balance fuel efficiency with operational viability and exploit the benefits of slow steaming. A 1-knot speed reduction offers substantial savings in fuel, emissions and maintenance costs.

The vessel integrates a hybrid shaft generator with frequency control, optimizing electrical power usage and reducing emissions. This system supports the increased electric load from wind propulsion devices and air lubrication compressors, enhancing overall efficiency. Equipped with an intelligent energy management system (iEMS) and route optimization software, the vessel ensures optimal energy use, further enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing operational costs.

Balancing efficiency and costs

In response to the growing regulatory pressures on emissions and fuel efficiency, Kongsberg Maritime, together with Deltamarin, has developed a vessel design that demonstrates that compliance with future regulations is achievable even when using conventional fuels. This new design promises fuel cost savings of 40-50% depending on the operational profile.

Oskar Levander, vice president of strategy and business development at Kongsberg Maritime, explained, “Shipowners 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.”

For this study, Kongsberg Maritime selected a Kamsarmax bulker of 82,000DWT, a common vessel size globally, as the basis for the new design. The Kamsarmax represents a versatile choice as this vessel type often faces restrictions with the global availability of low-carbon fuels, making it an ideal candidate for the study.

Henrik Sjöblom, vice president of Kongsberg Maritime’s concepts and advisory team, noted, “This hybrid wind technology approach offers the best of both worlds, making the vessel more versatile and efficient.”

To maintain the hull’s cleanliness and further minimize resistance, the vessel is fitted with a HullSkater, which also contributes to maintaining low fuel consumption during operation.

Levander concluded, “This project has been a real eye-opener. The combination of advanced technologies creates significant savings, making our new design a game-changer. With a short payback period of five years, this vessel represents a smart investment for shipowners looking to reduce costs and meet future compliance targets. At Kongsberg, we are committed to integrating the best technologies to drive the maritime industry toward a cleaner, more efficient future.”

In related news, Kongsberg Maritime and Solstad Offshore recently entered a collaboration agreement to identify and trial decarbonization technologies across Solstad’s fleet. Click here to read the full story