Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has commenced testing of a new horseshoe-shaped design energy efficient windshield device.
Installed on the bow of the MOL operated containership, MOL Marvel, the new windshield is expected to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2% average on an annual basis.
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The device is mounted on the 6,700TEU containership that is plying the North Pacific Ocean route at a speed of 17k.
The other benefits expected to be delivered by the device include greater fuel efficiency and enhanced control in sailing during bad weather.
The cost effective device has been developed to address the issue of greater wind resistance faced by large containerships due to increasing height of containers loaded on their deck.
After examining the bow’s aerodynamic form through wind tunnel testing, the horseshoe shaped design enclosing the front line of the loaded containers was developed to maximise the wind resistance while lowering the weight of the main unit.
MOL Techno-Trade, Ouchi Ocean Consultant, Akishima Laboratory (Mitsui Zosen), and the University of Tokyo supported Mol in the development of the device.
The project was backed by the Joint R&D for Industry Program in which Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNk) promotes new research strategies.
MOL is also working on several other advanced vessel concepts through the Senpaku ISHIN project to contribute to environmental protection.
Image: Windshield on MOL’s containership ‘MOL MARVEL’. Photo: courtesy of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
