MAN Partners with MM-Offshore to Enhance Ship Performance

MAN has signed a cooperation agreement with MM-Offshore for ship performance enhancement. Image: MAN

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MAN) Friday announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with MM-Offshore intended to support ship performance enhancement.

"A further refinement of this concept – aided by modern and advanced simulation and calculation tools – requires a coordinated effort right from the initial design phase of the vessel before the ship design is frozen," said Jan Hamann, President of MM-Offshore.

"The focus of this cooperation agreement will be on developing common propulsion and manoeuvring solutions for different ship types using each company's unique experience and know-how, and I am already looking very much forward to the results."

The agreement it is intended to provide optimised propulsion solutions based on MAN's Kappel propeller design, optimised rudder bulb and hub-fairing cones, and MM-Offshore's advanced EMPRESS – twisted rudder designs

With the application of optimised and combined energy-saving devices, as well as the technical coordination of common shipbuilding projects, MAN says the agreement will help to ensure overall optimum solutions with clear benefits for ship designers, ship yards, ship owners, and operators.

"Any further potential for improving overall efficiency can only be realised through a combined optimisation of propeller and rudder systems, using a holistic approach that takes the interaction between these two vital components – as well as the ship's hull – into consideration," said Poul Knudsgaard, Vice President and Head of Aft Ship & Propeller for MAN.

"A number of recent projects have already documented how beneficial such a combined optimisation could be for ship designers, operators and owners in achieving low fuel and operating costs, as well as attaining a low EEDI. I welcome this agreement with MM-Offshore and look forward to developing our technology together and making further gains in terms of propulsion efficiency."

Last month, MAN announced that the world's first ME-Gas Injection Ethane (GIE) two-stroke engine passed gas trials onboard the liquefied ethylene gas (LEG) carrier Gaschem Beluga.