Asia/Pacific News
MOL's Fuel-Saving Propeller Boss Cap System Reaches "Major Milestone"
Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) Wednesday announced that its energy-saving Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) have now been ordered for 3,000 vessels worldwide.
MOL says the PBCF technology, which was developed in 1986 by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd., and Nakashima-Mitsuwa Propeller Co., Ltd., results in a 3-5 percent reduction in fuel consumption.
It also reportedly reduces propellor torque and rudder erosion.
The energy-saving device is attached to a vessel's propellor and works by breaking up the hub vortex generated behind the rotating propeller.
MOL's fuel saving and CO2 reduction claims are based on PBCF's application on large-scale containerships.
The company also says the number of ships adopting PBCF has doubled in just five years, reaching the 2,000 vessel milestone in 2011 and now exceeding the 3,000 milestone.
In January MOL said 2015 will be a "counteroffensive year" as it attempts to revitalise its containership business.
