Odfjell SE is a Bergen-headquartered shipping and tank terminal company. They are in the process of upgrading the propulsion systems on 19 of their vessels to bring in nearly 20% reduction in fuel consumption.
Bow Clipper was Odfjell’s first Kværner Class vessel to be upgraded, when it was drydocked in August 2015. Bow Clipper’s sea trials before and after the upgrade showed an overall efficiency gain of more than 20%. Encouraged with the results from Bow Clipper, ten other Kværner Class vessels scheduled for the upgrade are: Bow Flower, Bow Fortune, Bow Cecil, Bow Flora, Bow Cardinal, Bow Faith, Bow Cedar, Bow Fagus, Bow Chain and Bow Firda. Following the success Odfjell achieved the retrofitting of a 11 37,000dwt chemical tanker with equipment providing a fuel saving of 20%, an additional eight 40,000 dwt Poland class vessels will also be retrofitted and readied by 2017.
Odfjell developed the retrofitting concept in collaboration with MAN Diesel & Turbo, Grenaa Motorfabrik and ABB AS Turbocharging. The new upgrades include Kappel propeller blades, fairing cone and rudder bulb, shaft generator gearbox, technical upgrades to the main engine, turbochargers all with Odfjell determined settings. Under the improvements vessels previously rated D+ Rightship’s energy rating are upgraded to an A+ rating, up to par with the latest eco-design vessels being built today.
Helge Olsen, svp of Ship Management at Odfjell is quoted to have said: “The full scale sea trial for our 37,000 dwt vessel concluded with a 20% reduction. This is even better than the model test results and is as such highly satisfactory.”
Dr. Kourosh Koushan, research manager at Marintek is quoted to have said: “We are involved in many projects related to energy saving and the reduction of emissions. In this particular project we documented an energy saving in excess of 15% for the Kvaerner class, which is high compared to many other vessels tested. In the second project for Odfjell we documented a saving of approximately 20% for the Poland class, which is exceptional.”
Warwick Norman, CEO of RightShip is quoted to have said: “This investment in vessel efficiency demonstrates Odfjell’s leadership in environmental sustainability. It is also a smart move from a business perspective positioning Odfjell advantageously in the market.”
Kristian Mørch, CEO Odfjell SE, said, “This project shows Odfjell at its finest; it is a result of a true team effort and demonstrate the deep know-how of our organization.”
Source: Odfjell SE
