Klaveness Combination Carriers (KCC) has revealed that MV Ballard, the youngest vessel in the CABU fleet, has completed dry dock and a series of sea trials after installing an air lubrication system developed by Silverstream Technologies.
The Silverstream System uses a series of air release units (ARUs) located along the flat bottom of the vessel. Oil-free compressors generate pressurized air that is sent through the ARUs, creating a uniform layer of microbubbles that traverses the hull, thereby reducing the friction between the hull and water. MV Ballard is the first KCC ship to feature this technology. The company expects that this will lead to a decrease in net fuel consumption and the subsequent CO2 emissions.
Additionally, several other technologies were installed onboard the ship. These include:
“The implementation of these efficiency improvements illustrates our commitment to take a front-runner position in delivering cost-effective decarbonization to our customers. We remain steadfast in our journey to implement a wide range of energy and operational efficiency technologies on our current fleet while we, in addition, prepare for the later utilization of zero-emission fuels on our newbuilds,” CEO Engebret Dahm commented.
According to KCC, should all technologies deliver in line with KCC’s expectations, an energy efficiency improvement of around 15% is anticipated aboard the vessel. Following MV Ballard, CLEANBU MV Baru is scheduled for a Silverstream® System retrofit in November 2023.
As part of its decarbonisation strategy, KCC signed a deal for the construction of three third-generation CABU vessels with Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding Co. in June this year.
Compared to the existing CABU vessels built 2001-2002 that the newbuilds will replace, the vessels are estimated to have 25-30% higher earnings capacity and around 35% lower CO2 emissions due to increased cargo carrying capacity and substantially lower fuel consumption.