Reducing MS Crown Seaways’ fuel consumption with Elogrid: An installation story
Author: Jari Yli-Tolppa
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
DFDS A/S has installed Elogrid™ on the MS Crown Seaways to enhance the ship’s energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The installation was successfully completed during the vessel’s annual drydocking at the Fayard repair yard in January 2024.
Elogrid is an advanced system designed for ship tunnel thrusters that reduces water resistance and fuel consumption while improving maneuverability. Additionally, it minimizes noise and vibrations, thereby enhancing the overall passenger experience.
One of Elogrid’s satisfied customers is DFDS A/S. They installed the solution on the MS Crown Seaways. This upgrade aligns with their broader initiative to enhance the environmental performance of its fleet, with anticipated fuel savings of approximately 1% contributing to the company’s green transition goals.
Fuel savings predicted by analysis
In August 2023, Elomatic and DFDS A/S signed a contract for the fabrication of Elogrid for the MS Crown Seaways, with delivery scheduled for December of the same year. The contract encompassed a range of services, including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to ensure the Elogrids were fit for purpose, Finite Element Method (FEM) vibration analysis, the design of fabrication documents, and the complete fabrication and painting of the Elogrids.
Our CFD analysis predicted fuel savings of over 1% across all speed ranges, with potential savings of up to 2.5% at lower speeds (10–15 knots). Additionally, our calculations confirmed that the power of the bow thruster would remain unchanged after the installation of the grids.
Ensuring final quality and adherence to schedule
After the CFD analysis was completed and approved by the customer, Elomatic selected its trusted supplier, HL-Metal Ltd from Parainen, Finland, to manufacture the grids. Several development meetings were held with the fabrication team to optimize production time and ensure the final quality of the products.
Once the installation drawings were finalized, they were sent to DFDS for forwarding to the repair yard, where the cost and timeline for the installation work were estimated. The delivery was successfully completed as planned. Transportation to Fayard AS in Denmark took place during the Christmas period in 2023, ensuring that the grids arrived at the repair yard right on schedule.
Our CFD analysis predicted fuel savings of over 1% across all speed ranges, with potential savings of up to 2.5% at lower speeds.
Elogrid installations at repairyard
Elogrid Installation Start 
Elogrid At Port Side Forward Tunnel 
Elogrid At Port Side Aft Tunnel 
Elogrid At Starboard Side Forward Tunnel 
Elogrid At Starboard Side Aft Tunnel
The vessel now experiences reduced vibrations, enhanced maneuverability, and a much quieter arrival and turn in the harbor.
The importance of supervision in installation
The installation began on January 8th, with Elomatic’s supervision team on-site to ensure that the installation crew performed as agreed. Some issues arose because the design model did not perfectly align with the actual vessel’s form. This is a common occurrence, underscoring the importance of having the supervision team present to make quick decisions when the grids do not fit precisely into their designated positions. In this instance, the design and installation teams reached a compromise to shape the blades for a better fit with the aft tunnel scallop plates.
The nature of supervisory work can vary in difficulty depending on how the shipyard has contracted the work and how well the installation team understands and adheres to the installation instructions and drawings. This time, the supervising team had the unique experience of living onboard the vessel during the dry dock, while the ship was neither floating nor rolling.
Learning through installation
The installation team was new to this type of work and was learning the necessary methods throughout the process. Initially, lifting the grid proved more challenging than expected due to inconsistent availability of cranes, telescopic handlers, and forklifts. Consequently, the team had to install lifting eyes in the ship’s shell plating, which was crucial for raising the grid high enough for a proper fit, as the initial attachments had been placed too low.
Once the team identified the correct working methods, the installation process became significantly smoother, although a slight delay occurred due to the overhaul of one thruster and the wait for its equipment reassembly. Despite this setback, the remaining tasks were completed on schedule.
Result was satisfactory for all parties
The shipowner is pleased with the new Elogrids, even though clear measurements for fuel savings are not yet available. He sent the Elomatic team photos of the vessel after the installation and painting work (see the images), and everything closely resembled the assembly drawings. Both the chief and the captain have also expressed their satisfaction; the vessel now experiences reduced vibrations, enhanced maneuverability, and a much quieter arrival and turn in the harbor.
Following the installation, ownership of the vessel changed hands, with Gotlandsbolaget purchasing it along with its crew and route from DFDS. However, the itinerary between Copenhagen and Oslo will remain unchanged, and the ship will continue to sail under the Danish flag.
Jari Yli-Tolppa
B.Sc. (Naval Architect)
Jari Yli-Tolppa is an accomplished naval architect with over 30 years of experience in ship design and production management. He has worked in various design offices across Europe and held managerial positions at the Turku and Rauma shipyards. Currently, Jari is the product manager for Elogrids and design manager within the Marine BU team for Shipowner services.
jari.yli-tolppa@elomatic.com
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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.
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.