NYK to test “bubble hull”

NYK to test “bubble hull”

NYK to test “bubble hull”

   NYK and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said they will begin experiments on an air-lubrication system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from ships.
   Jointly developed by the two companies, the system reduces friction between the hull and seawater by using bubbles generated by supplying air to the vessel's bottom.
   The companies said the first permanent installation of the system using an air-blower is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by about 10 percent.

Image from the bottom of a module carrier equipped with an air lubrication system

   The experiments will be conducted using a “module carriers” operated by NYK-Hinode Line. The module carrier is a special heavy load carrier with a roll-on/roll-off rampway to transport thousand-ton prefabricated structures of plant facilities to be installed at oil/gas development sites, or other industrial locations.
   The companies explained that “compared to other large vessels, a module carrier has a wide, shallow-draft hull that generates relatively little water pressure and accordingly minimizes the electric energy required by an air blower to supply air to the vessel's bottom. Moreover, due to the flat, wide bottom, the supplied air is considered to be readily retained under the vessel's bottom. For these reasons, it has been determined that experiments into the effectiveness of CO2 reduction can be verified using module carriers.”
   Construction of the vessels will be completed on March 31 and in late November.