World News
Bow Retrofit Drops Fuel use 8.5%
Bulk carrier Clipper says is has reduced the fuel consumption of one of its multipurpose carriers by 8.5 percent by replacing its bulbous bow and rudder bulb.
The original bulbous bow of the 9,100 deadweight tonne (dwt) Clipper Galaxy was designed for best operation at full speed and near-full loads, but Clipper notes that most vessels often operate at eco-speed, and multipurpose vessels are particularly likely to run at less than full load.
In August 2013, the company had the bulbous bow and rudder bulb replaced during dry-dock at Lixin Shipyard in Shanghai.
The bulb modification, taken by itself, would have reduced fuel use by 10 percent, Clipper said, but, because of trim optimisation that helped mitigate inefficiency with the old bow, the real-world savings were less.
Actual reduction in fuel use depends on speed and loading, but Clipper found that, based on consumption before and after, as well as current loading and speed patterns, the savings totals around 8.5 percent.
Class society DNV said last year that redesign of bulbous bows can reduce fuel use by 5 percent or more, allowing the retrofit to pay for itself in less than a year.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 625.00 | 9.00 | 732.00 | 15.00 |
| Rotterdam | 577.50 | 3.50 | 739.50 | 1.00 |
| Houston | 595.00 | 0.50 | 767.00 | 4.50 |
| Fujairah | 628.50 | 4.00 | 878.50 | 11.00 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 645.50 | 0.50 | 827.00 | 5.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 606.50 | 0.50 | 779.50 | 0.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 703.50 | 4.00 | 886.00 | 6.00 |
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