| NYK devises energy-saving adjustments for box ship |
| Japan's Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and its subsidiary Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) have made energy-saving adjustments for container ships. The adjustments resulted in lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 23% over six months, beating pre-test estimates. To reduce energy consumption, container ships often sail at a speed that is much slower than the average speed anticipated when the ship was designed and built. To make existing ships more energy-efficient at slower speeds, the NYK Group has been conducting research since the summer of 2013, studying measures such as remodeling the ship’s bulbous bow and installing MT-FAST. MT-FAST is an energy-saving device that greatly reduces fuel consumption. Its multiple blades are fitted ahead of the ship's propeller to reduce the swirl generated by propeller revolutions and thereby enhance propulsion efficiency. ClassNK verified the CO2 emissions based on data gathered six months after the adjustments were implemented in June 2014. The development of NYK's energy-efficient technology was supported by grants from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Green Technology Programme and also supported by the ClassNK Joint R&D for Industry Program. |