Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has now released more information on
its air carpet system for the new AIDA ships it is building for delivery in 2015
and 2016.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will install its
innovative "Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System" (MALS) on two large cruise ships
to be built for the AIDA Cruises. MALS is MHI's proprietary technology that
reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) by a layer of air bubbles
blown out from the vessel's bottom.
The application of the MALS for the two cruise ships ordered
by AIDA Cruises was decided in light of the customer's keen interest in lowering
fuel consumption and easing the burden on the environment. The system is
expected to reduce the vessel's fuel consumption by approximately 7%. The event
marks the world's first installation of MALS on a cruise ship. It is also a
significant milestone for the MALS as the cruise shipping industry requires
definite quality and performance on any devices so this first application in
this sector further demonstrates its reliability to the whole shipping industry.
MHI received the order for the two cruise ships in November 2011. The 125,000
gross tonnage (G/T), 3,250 passenger ships will be the largest ever constructed
for AIDA Cruises. Construction will take place at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard &
Machinery Works, with deliveries scheduled for the spring of 2015 and 2016,
respectively.
The air blown out by the MALS from the vessel's bottom produces small air
bubbles which cover the vessel's bottom like an "air-carpet", which reduces
friction between the hull and seawater during navigation. For the MALS, MHI uses
special in-house developed high-efficiency blowers and state-of-the-art fluid
simulation analysis tools to configure the arrangement of air outlet points to
achieve maximum friction reduction at optimized air-blow volume. With these
advanced innovations, MHI expects a 7% energy-saving effect. In 2010, MHI has
already verified the performance of the MALS with an approximately 13% fuel
consumption reduction during extensive sea trials on two module carriers which
was the first commercial application of the MALS for the vessel in operation.
Following the successful launching of the MALS on module carriers, MHI has
completed a newly developed concept design for bulk carriers, a major marine
transportation vessel, that enables an approximately 25% reduction in CO2
emissions compared to conventional vessels, thanks to application of the MALS
complemented with high-efficiency hull form and improved propulsion system. MHI
will provide its conceptual design of this energy-saving bulk carrier for three
grain carriers to be built for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), a major
U.S. grain handler.
Given the current trend toward adoption of international marine transportation
rules for reducing environmental burdens, coupled with continuing fuel price
escalation, demand for more energy-efficient vessels is steadily increasing. In
response, MHI aims not only to further strengthen its marketing activities for
new MALS-installed ships such as module carriers, bulk carriers and cruise
ships; it also intends to promote business in retrofitting MALS to existing
vessels. Simultaneously, the company will conduct focused marketing activities
for its environment and energy-saving related technologies, including licensing
of MALS technologies, and also build up its engineering business through
provision of eco-ship related technologies and increased sales of energy-saving
systems. |
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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.
150 S. University Dr. Ste E,
Plantation, FL 33324 - USA
Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954
252 3945
EMail:
sales@cruiseco.com |
