Installation of Becker Mewis Duct

The reduction of operational cost is an important aspect of managing a company especially in a harsh financial environment. In that way companies have the ability of saving financial resources for whatever purpose they want. In the shipping industry, fuel oil consumption is one of the most crucial parameters in defining each year’s budget.

The Becker Mewis Duct (BMD) is a system that can be installed onboard ships making possible to either achieve significant reduction of fuel usage at a given speed or to allow the vessel to move faster for a particular power ratio. The BMD is comprised by fixed elements that are mounted/attached on the ship’s hull. These elements create a duct/nozzle, placed ahead of the propeller along with a fin system mounted within. This has the result of straightening and accelerating the hull’s wake into the propeller, producing also a clear forward thrust.

2014.12.01 - Installation of Becker Mewis Duct Figure 01

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Increase Business Reducing CO2 Footprint – The Maersk Way

Maersk Line published yesterday its Sustainability Progress Update for 2013, showing a 3.8 million tonnes CO2 reduction in a year where the business grew 4.1%.

2014.04.08 - Increase Business Reducing CO2 Footprint - The Maersk Way

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The Alternative ‘Alternative Fuel’?

As we look at, and try to understand, all the future fuel options, there is one particular fuel that has caught my attention. It is sulphur free, has low emissions, perhaps three to four times cheaper than marine distillate fuel, probably lower in price than LNG, a more beneficial fuel factor for the EEDI than LNG or diesel, it is non cryogenic and is already in widespread production (~50 million tonnes per annum) for a multitude of uses, including combustion. It has great potential for a much higher production and a distribution infrastructure more easily established than LNG.

2013.03.31 - The Alternative ‘Alternative Fuel’

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Project Vindskip the Fuel Efficient Ship

The Norwegian designers at Lade AS, have come up with a new concept for a partly wind-powered merchant ship the Vindskip (Windship). According to Lade AS the ship’s design can cut fuel use by 60% and carbon emissions by up to 80%.

2014.03.09 - Project Vindskip the Fuel Efficient Ship Figure 1

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MARPOL Annex VI Requirements for Technical and Operational Measures

During last February a very interesting article from Edmund Hughes, Technical Officer, Marine Environment Division, IMO was published in IMO’s website, explaining the new regulations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of international shipping, which entered into force on 1 January 2013 and make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to MARPOL Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. However, under regulation 19, the Administration may waive the requirements for new ships up to a maximum of 4 years.

2013.04.12 - MARPOL Annex VI Requirements for Technical and Operational Measures

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Maersk Ships Get New Bulbous Bow

Ten Maersk ships are getting a new bulbous bow in order to make them more fuel efficient. The change is intended to improve the performance of the vessels significantly, with fuel costs reduced by approximately 8% in the current slow-steaming environment. The vessels were too expensive to use, since they were designed for high speed. If they were retrofitted, however, Seago Line were interested in taking five vessels.

2013.03.12 - Maersk Ships Get New Bulbous Bow

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