World News
Turbocharger Promises Big Bunker Savings
A new electro-assist MET turbocharger designed to reduce both bunker consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, could reduce energy use by 30 percent compared with existing auxiliary blowers, according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) subsidiary MHI Machinery & Engine Co. Ltd., which developed the technology in partnership with Calnetix Technologies (Calnetix).
The turbocharger incorporates a high-speed compact electric motor supplied by Calnetix designed to optimise plant efficiency when a ship is slow steaming, improving combustion efficiency of the main engine.
Calnetix cofounder and CEO Vatche Artinian said the system can help shipping companies cut operating costs by using less fuel and also ensure compliance with international environmental rules.
"Like normal MET turbochargers, electro-assist MET turbochargers and hybrid MET turbochargers have a long product lifetime and can be installed without making significant changes to engines and offer excellent maintenance access, while being extremely compact devices that enable the best performance to be obtained when installed on a ship," Artinian said.
Slow steaming was recently named the most effective method for cutting costs by shipping intelligence firm Clarkson Research.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 644.50 | 1.00 | 782.00 | 10.50 |
| Rotterdam | 590.00 | 10.50 | 750.50 | 9.00 |
| Houston | 608.50 | 11.00 | 777.00 | 10.50 |
| Fujairah | 643.00 | 0.50 | 891.50 | 3.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 658.50 | 3.50 | 848.50 | 2.50 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 621.50 | 5.50 | 800.50 | 3.00 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 713.00 | 1.50 | 890.00 | 0.50 |
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