The 2016 Maritime Innovation Award from the Royal Institution of Naval Architects has been awarded to the patented energy saving and seakeeping device Hull Vane from Netherlands- headquartered naval architects Van Oossanen.
The Hull vane system uses a hydrofoil mounted aft, below the transom to reduce hull squat and hence reduce the resistance of relatively fast displacement ships. The inventor of the Hull Vane, Peter van Oossanen, received the award from Ron Finlayson, Strategic Business Director of Qinetiq, during the Annual Dinner in London on the 27th of April 2017.
The Maritime Innovation Award is presented by the Institution, in association with QinetiQ, to acknowledge outstanding scientific or technological research in the areas of hydrodynamics, propulsion, structures and material.
The jury praised the Hull Vane for its simplicity and effectiveness, and stated that solutions like the Hull Vane are needed to reduce the CO2 footprint of shipping, while keeping shipping costs down in the face of rising fuel costs. The jury also pointed out the importance of improved seakeeping for offshore vessels, passenger ships, naval ships and superyachts. Pitching and yawing movements are reduced by the Hull Vane, which increases the comfort onboard and operability of the vessel.
The Hull Vane is an excellent case study showing how a good idea, supported by subsidies in the development stage and protected by worldwide patents, can become a successful commercial product. The main markets for the Hull Vane are superyachts, naval ships, coastguard vessels, ferries, RoRo vessels, (expedition) cruise ships and certain offshore vessels. Hull Vane BV is working on projects in all of these segments and has sold ten units to date, with many more in the development stage. The Hull Vane is custom-designed for each ship and Hull Vane BV claims savings range from 5 to 20%, depending of the hull shape and speed of the ship.
By Jake Frith
