MAERSK plans to remove the nose of the ship to increase the efficiency

MAERSK LINE is set to remove the bulbous bows from its container ship, to cut its bunker bills. with a weight of at least 140 tons, removal of bulbous bow will be a costly operation which will take around 12 days per ship to complete . which will create a fuel saving of 1-2% and estimated to take place in 2013

 which will create a fuel saving of 1-2% and estimated to take place in 2013

The purpose of the bulbous bow is to even out waves created alongside the vessel, thus reducing the propulsion power needed. Large container vessels are typically designed for speed of 25 knots, but with today's slow steaming the bulbous bow are often out of shape and thus generate high level of resistance.

Thus overall fuel consumption costing more than $7 billion across the shipping business, even a 1% reduction makes a huge contribution.

The danish ship owner said that it also plans to cut out the turbocharger that are not needed where slow steaming, using a valve it can be switch the turbo on/off when it is needed and further is saves 1.2%

The solution is already placed in many of the MAERSK line vessel and saves 0.65% of total fuel consumption.

        MAERSK also plans to adjust the engine cooling system to only pump sea water when needed,thus saving pump power usage. This will save around 0.6% of fuel consumption.

       Lastly it will consider installing FINS on the ships propeller to eliminate the vortex created behind the propeller, thus reducing TORQUE and converting it into useful thrust.

This would save 1.3% of fuel with installing. Currently being investigated both for MAERSK LINE and MAERSK TANKERS