Damen leads LeanShips project
Damen is coordinating a multi-party, EU-supported project that aims to develop eight demonstrable concepts for low energy and near-to-zero emissions (Lean) ships.
The project – jointly managed by the Netherlands Maritime Technology Foundation (NMT), the Center of Maritime Technologies (CMT) from Germany and Italian ship research centre Cetena – aims to demonstrate solutions that increase fuel efficiency of vessels by up to 25%. It also targets emissions reductions of 25% for CO2 and up to 100% for NOx, SOx and particulate matter.
The project target markets are small to midsized ships for intra-European waterborne transport, vessels for offshore operations and the leisure and cruise markets. The eight concepts under development are:
• A CNG-powered reverse stern drive tug;
• An LNG tug;
• A diesel/methanol dual-fuel engine for OSVs;
• An efficient LNG carrier;
• A short sea cargo ship retrofitted for LNG fuel;
• An inland cargo ship with large oscillating propulsor;
• A large propeller for a general cargo vessel;
• Energy-efficient passenger vessels and/or cruise ships.
The initiative’s 46 partners – from 12 EU countries (plus Switzerland) – include ship owners, shipyards, equipment manufacturers and research institutes. They have received funding totalling €17.26 million from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, towards a total project cost of €22.99 million.
Dedicated teams of equipment manufacturers, shipyards and ship owners as well as rule makers (Lloyds Register is a partner) will develop the demonstration cases for market uptake.
By Rachael Doyle
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