EMEA News
New Containership Fins Drop Fuel Use 4%
German shipping company Hamburg Süd now has seven containerships in operation using a fin design that promises to reduce fuel consumption by up to 4 percent, according to Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (DSR), which handled the retrofit.
Becker Marine Systems, which announced its development of the product, the Becker Twisted Fin in 2012, said the product is installed in front of ships' propellers to generate a pre-swirl, allowing for more efficient propulsion.
DSR installed the fins on the vessels using a routing system that allowed each of them to be dry-docked for a maximum of six days, and the last ship, the MV Santa Rosa, was redelivered in the last week of February.
"With the Becker Twisted Fins installed, both Hamburg Süd and Damen Shiprepair contribute in a small, but significant way to environmental protection," DSR said.
Last month, Hamburg Süd said using the new fins, which represents a "first" for the industry, is part of a larger company effort to improve its environmental performance.
