Clean technology company Silverstream Technologies and marine engine designer MAN Energy Solutions have signed a collaboration agreement to support the decarbonisation of the global shipping industry.
The agreement will explore solutions for improving vessel efficiency spanning both newbuild installations and retrofits. With about half of the world’s commercial ships powered by MAN Energy Solutions, the collaboration will help further accelerate adoption of the Silverstream System air lubrication technology across the global fleet.
Silverstream’s technology releases a uniform carpet of air to reduce the frictional resistance between the hull and the water, cutting average net fuel consumption and GHG emissions by 5-10%. While the air lubrication system is applicable to all shipping segments and is effective in all sea states, it is especially effective on large oceangoing vessels due to the size and shape of their hull. MAN two-stroke engines are the preferred choice of propulsion for these commercial vessels.
Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “There are many different ways to approach net-zero and MAN Energy Solutions is happy to work with like-minded industry partners in this pursuit. Decarbonising the marine segment is a giant task but Silverstream, with its innovative technology, displays great potential in this regard. I’m certain that this agreement will deliver interesting insights and, crucially, concrete proposals to further our mutual aims.”
Noah Silberschmidt, Founder and CEO, Silverstream Technologies, added: “Shipping must rise to the challenges of decarbonisation, new regulations and increasingly complex fuel economics. In collaboration with MAN ES, we are leading the way to the cleaner, greener vessels needed to achieve the IMO’s carbon reduction targets; pursuing the mantra that the greenest fuel is the fuel that you do not use.”
As of October 2023, there are 180 vessels contracted to have the Silverstream System installed across all of shipping’s major segments, with 50 installed on ships in-service today. Silverstream’s customers include MSC, Maersk, Grimaldi, Shell, Vale, Carnival and ADNOC L&S, among other industry names. Many of these customers are signing fleet-wide deals for the technology. This market interest is driven by the fact that the system is considered to represent a proven lifecycle solution for efficiency, with class-approved components that are designed to last the lifespan of a vessel. The commercialisation and scaling of air lubrication technology, which this collaboration agreement supports, is said to help solve the fundamental challenges of vessel design efficiency.
