Damen Shipyards Group has announced the first sale of its Damen Air Cavity System (DACS) to Estonian ship management and chartering company Amisco.
Damen will retrofit the DACS system to Amisco’s cargo vessel Danita in Tallinn, Estonia. DACs is an air lubrication system, borne out of a collaboration between Damen and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). It maintains a thin layer of air over the flat bottom of a vessel’s hull, reducing resistance in the water, thereby lowering drag and friction. As a result, the efficiency of the vessel is improved with fuel consumption reduced by up to 15%.
DACS offers vessel operators a straightforward solution, for both newbuild and existing vessels, to comply with regulations such as EEXI and CII as well as the EU Emission Trading System (ETS).
With DACS installed to Danita, Amisco expects to achieve the CII rating necessary to continue operating in the Baltic Sea in the face of new, stricter emissions regulations. At the same time, the considerable reduction in fuel consumption is considered to allows for a rapid return on investment.
Allan Noor, CEO Amisco said: “We are excited to partner with Damen and implement this new technology to reduce our emissions. The Air Cavity System is a game-changer for us, allowing us to lower the fuel consumption and reduce the CO2 emissions of our current fleet. This marks the initial phase in our continuous commitment to delivering value to our partners through our existing fleet, while collectively minimising the environmental impact across the entire supply chain.”
Rutger van Damen, Sales Manager Damen Green Solutions, said: “We are proud to introduce this technology to the market. Reducing emissions is crucial for the future of our industry and DACS is a practical solution that can make a real difference.”
During the verification of the fuel saving results, Damen was supported by class society RINA which played a pivotal role in verifying the fuel-saving results achieved by Damen’s technology and examined the working principle of the air lubrication system. With RINA’s expertise and assessment, Damen received independent validation of the fuel savings realised through the implementation of Damen air lubrication system.
Pino Spadafora, Marine Commercial Senior Director RINA, said: “Supporting Damen and Amisco in the application of a technology such as the DACS system is an honour for RINA. Fuel optimisation is of paramount importance on existing vessels as much as new builds and cooperation within the industry is the way forward to finding new solutions”.
Sergei Kravtṡenko, Member of the Board at BLRT’s Tallinn Shipyard, said: “We are delighted that our long-term partner – Estonian-based shipping company Amisco has entrusted us with the installation of DACS system on board their vessel Danita. At BLRT Repair Yards, we take pride in our commitment to excellence and innovation in maritime installations. From expertise and decades of experience, our skilled team was ready to handle the project. This cutting-edge technology will definitely enhance vessel performance and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. And we are proud to have been a part of the deal”.
