The demand for advanced propeller and Energy-Saving Device (ESD) retrofits has almost quadrupled since 2020, according to Lloyd’s Register’s latest report.
The London classification body points out that high-efficiency propellers can provide fuel savings of between 3 and 10%. Rudder bulbs, on the other hand, can help reduce fuel consumption by over 3.5%.
In four years, energy modernization and upgrading have been formally requested for as many as 1,500 ships. Over a third of the retrofitting required was carried out on vessels less than ten years old, while 12% of the contractual agreements concerned ships built less than six years ago.
The increasing regulatory pressure from the European Union to decarbonize the sector has certainly acted as a catalyst for the development of this market.
The adoption of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the IMO’s new GHG strategy, combined with European regulations, including the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and FuelUE Maritime, have effectively forced shipowners to reduce the amount of emissions that contribute to global warming per unit of fuel, with financial penalties for violating the predefined standards.
Consequently, the number of operators who have decided to turn to shipyards to adapt their vessels to the challenges of Net-Zero is on the rise. This challenge is all the more demanding considering that currently only 1.74% of the global fleet has these energy efficiency systems in place.
The growing tendency among shipowners to upgrade the technology of their ships has also indirectly impacted the newbuilding market.
If we look at the vessel orderbook we find that 8.4% of newbuildings will be fitted with Energy-Saving Devices. Although it’s a small percentage, it is still two to six times more than the number of ships currently in service.
Bulkers, oil tankers and boxships are, according to the report, the main candidates for ESD installation, mainly due to their high fuel consumption profiles.
Indeed, the study shows that 16.87% of the bulk carriers on order will be equipped with bulb rudders, compared to 6.74% of the existing fleet. In the containership segment, rudder bulbs and stabilizer fins have been included in the construction of 10% of new ships.
In total, if we add the new vessels that have just been delivered to the ones currently on order, there are over 10,000 ships that have or will have some form of energy-saving propulsion technology. There are also at least another 1,400 vessels that will have an energy-efficient system by 2020.
Despite the advantages, the research also points out a number of critical issues. Many operators struggle to individuate the most appropriate technological solutions for their vessels. This is due to a lack of understanding of the specific requirements for their ships and, above all, due to uncertainty about the real effects that the new devices could have on their operational efficiency.
Biofouling, i.e. the buildup of living organisms on surfaces underwater or exposed to marine environments, is also seen as a threat to the operational efficiency of ESDs because it could contribute to spreading invasive species by altering the aerodynamic profiles of rudder blades and propellers.
To address these challenges, Lloyds Register recommends a five-step approach that includes a comprehensive vessel assessment, hydrodynamic analysis using computational fluid dynamics, careful evaluation of technical factors including torsional vibration and noise emitted underwater, robust performance monitoring and long-term maintenance planning.
“Our research reveals that propeller and ESD retrofits offer ship operators a proven pathway for significant fuel savings, extended regulatory compliance and significant emissions reductions,” says Lloyd’s Register Technical Director Claudene Sharp-Patel.
“However,” she adds, “successful propeller and ESD retrofits require far more than simply bolting on additional equipment. They demand sophisticated analysis, careful integration with existing systems, and ongoing performance management,” she concludes.
Translation by Giles Foster
