Hull Vane Study Shows Device Provides 12.5% Fuel Savings

The Royal Netherlands Navy is said to have gleaned a 12.5 percent fuel-savings by using the Hull Vane device.

Hull Vane B.V. (Hull Vane) says a study conducted to determine effectiveness of the Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNN's) use of its underwater hydrofoil-type wing has demonstrated fuel-savings of 12.5 percent.

After the Hull Vane was installed, it is reported to have been optimised for a speed of 17.5 knots, based on the operational speed profile and power curve of the vessel.

"Subsequently, CFD runs were done to determine the resistance at 5 knots, 12.5 knots, 17.5 knots and 22.5 knots, showing resistance reductions of 1.3 percent, 13.7 percent, 15.3 percent and 11.1 percent respectively," states Hull Vane.

"Multiplied by the operational speed profile, this results in an annual saving on fuel and emissions of 12.5 percent."

Hull Vane says that the amount of CO2 emissions saved will be more than 1,000 tonnes per ship per year, "making the Hull Vane an extremely cost-effective CO2 abatement measure, as the investment will be paid back many times over during the lifetime of the ship."

A seakeeping analysis is said to have shown a 7 percent reduction of the pitching movements of the vessel in typical waves, as well as a reduction of the vertical accelerations on the helicopter deck by 13 percent.

It is also reported that the study showed the turbulent wake zone behind the stern was reduced by about 50 percent with Hull Vane use, which the company says makes "launching and recovery of the RHIB through the stern slipway safer and easier."

The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) is reported to have indicated that they will consider the Hull Vane for their future newbuilds, as it is noted that  "savings are greater and the costs lower in the case of a newbuilding."

Hull Vane says the study will be presented at the FAST 2015 Conference in Washington DC, which runs from September 1 to 4.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Bruno Bouckaert, commercial director of Hull Vane, is planning to describe its underwater hydrofoil-type wing at this year's Interferry conference.