Optimizing ship performance: Three ways Elogrid can help you smooth the decarbonization journey

When it comes to ship design, decarbonization isn’t just a matter that needs to be addressed for newly built ships; it’s an urgent issue for the existing fleet.

Ship owners are faced with a multitude of design decisions and uncertainties, including choices regarding solutions for the existing fleet. Despite the challenges ahead, the primary goal remains optimizing the ship’s performance, whether it’s a cruise ship or ferry, superior ship design is the key.

Exposure to EU ETS or other carbon pricing, and CII ratings, will be essential commercial considerations for any ship owner or operator. It is therefore essential that at the design stage, a design partner can thoroughly evaluate all options, and model how they will perform. This requires significant, dedicated resources – one small change at the design stage can have major impacts on operations, and vice versa.

Even a small piece of equipment can make a difference

Maximizing energy efficiency is one of our most important focus areas for the Elomatic Marine & Offshore business at Elomatic. There are many energy saving solutions available, and if properly designed and optimized, they can improve vessel performance significantly. In Elomatic we work out what fits best for your individual vessel by using advanced engineering methods – at the same time making sure that the revenue potential is maintained or even enhanced. At the end of the day, even a small piece of equipment, when developed using advance modelling, can make a difference and deliver a notable impact on GHG emissions. This is why we have developed the Elogrid solution.

Here are three ways our Elogrid solution can transform your vessels and help support you on the journey to decarbonization.

A unique integration of qualities: enhancing manoeuvrability while also cutting down on hull resistance, noise and vibrations

The Elogrid solution reduces the additional resistance of tunnel thruster openings and in parallel considerably improves the side thrust. This enhances slow speed maneuvering as well as reduce tunnel thruster’s noise and vibrations. This unique integration of qualities marks a remarkable enhancement in ship performance, overcoming the classic dilemma between those formerly contradicting factors. During maneuvers, the Elogrid functions as a stator, reducing swirl and increasing axial thrust in the jet.

Any vessel can benefit significantly from the improvement in thrust performance provided by Elogrid. The device is set in tunnel openings to prevent water entering into the tunnels when the ship is sailing at sea. When maneuvering the Elogrid operates as stator, decreasing swirl and increasing jet axial thrust.

Reducing fuel consumption

Additionally, the Elogrid solution reduces fuel consumption. Fuel savings of 1% to 4% can be achieved depending on the vessel design and speed, as well as location and number of thrusters. This means a meaningful reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and an immediate impact on the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).

Excellent results you can see straight away

Our Elogrid solution achieved excellent results when first tested on the Viking Line M/S Gabriella back in 2022. A significant improvement on ship performance by lowering vibrations and improving maneuverability was accomplished along with fuel savings and other benefits.  The outcomes led Viking Line to invest in this technology for their next drydocking vessel, Viking Cinderella.

Recently, the Denmark based transport and logistics company (DFDS A/S) has also selected Elomatic to develop and deliver its solution on the MS Crown Seaways cruise ferry, which currently operates on the Denmark-Norway ferry route Copenhagen-Oslo. Installation was done in January 2024 during the vessel’s normal dry docking.

The Elomatic scope for this project includes designing, manufacturing, and supervising the installation of four grids for two tunnels. Like every Elogrid project, it also incorporates a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis which enables the customization of the solution according to each vessel’s unique hull shape, effectively tackling individual complex problems.

To conclude, Elomatic’s Elogrid is a simple yet powerful solution that notably enhances thrust and manoeuvrability while also cutting down on hull resistance, noise, and vibrations.  Vessel operators will also notice that windmilling of thruster propellers is no longer an issue once the Elogrid solution has been installed. This overall enhancement in ship performance consequently aids in reducing fuel consumption, demonstrating how advanced modelling and even small-scale equipment can make cost-efficient differences in greenhouse gas emissions and CII performance.

Whether we are envisioning the ships of the future or enhancing those of today, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, by keeping our gaze fixed on the horizon, we can continue to discover solutions that will help to solve the complex challenges that lie ahead.

Contact us

Jukka Suvanto

Senior Sales Manager

+358 40 5669 431 jukka.suvanto@elomatic.com

Jari Yli-Tolppa

Design Manager

+358 40 5815 014 jari.yli-tolppa@elomatic.com

Antti Yrjänäinen

Project & Sales Manager, Marine & Offshore Energy

+358 40 5011 414 antti.yrjanainen@elomatic.com

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Product
Elogrid

Elogrid is a cutting-edge solution crafted by our team, dedicated to maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact in maritime operations. By seamlessly integrating advanced engineering methods and innovative design principles, Elogrid offers a multifaceted approach to enhancing vessel performance.

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Service
Marine

We can serve as your partner in the design and construction of ship and offshore wind power solutions with expertise in environmental requirements.

We have extensive experience and an established role as an early adopter of new technologie

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