TMC Compressors (TMC) has secured a contract from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to supply marine air lubrication system (ALS) compressors for five liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

The ALS method uses air bubbles to reduce the resistance between the ship’s hull and seawater. The distribution of air bubbles on the surface of the hull reduces frictional resistance and, therefore, saves energy.

In total, TMC will deliver three marine ALS compressors for each vessel.

The ALS compressors will be coupled with HHI’s self-developed Hi-ALS air lubrication system on all five of the vessels.

TMC sales and business development director Hans Petter Tanum said: “Combining our ALS compressors with Hyundai’s Hi-ALS air lubrication system is an excellent example of how the supplier industry can cooperate to make the shipping industry greener and reduce shipowners’ operating costs.”

As part of the contract, TMC will also deliver dedicated ALS control systems integrated into a specially designed control cabinet.

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The compressors will be manufactured in Norway.

The contract also includes options for the supply of TMC’s ALS compressors to additional LNG newbuilds equipped with an ALS system.

HHI is building the five LNG carriers for three different shipowners in partnership with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in Korea.

Two of the 174,000m³ newbuilds will be delivered to Norwegian shipowner Knutsen OAS, while another two will be supplied to Korean shipowner SM KLCSM.

The shipowner of the final vessel has not been disclosed.

TMC provides compressors for ALS applications ranging from 50kW to 400kW capacity, along with the associated ALS control systems.

In October last year, TMC secured a contract from Vard to deliver the marine compressed air system for installation on a stern trawler.