Mediterranean Shipping Company has become the latest line to try out a bow shield to minimise front-end wind resistance against container stacks.
Wind-deflector technology “plays the role of a windshield and aims at improving the ship’s aerodynamics, similar to an air dam incorporated into a semi-truck desigg,” Ship Nerd has reported.
“At first, the design seemed odd. Now, they are standard for long-haul trucks. Therefore, the shipping industry can benefit as well by reducing its fuel consumption and its greenhouse gas emissions.”
Mitsui OSK Line (MOL) was the first to try out bow shields in a bid to reduce bunker fuel consumption six years ago.
“MOL’s merged container line, Ocean Network Express, operated with Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), has in the last year installed windshields on two ships, the ONE Trust and ONE Tradition.
“In the early stages, MOL carried out tests on the windshield and claimed that the device cuts CO2 emissions by 2%.
“The shield was installed on the bow of one of its containerships, MOL Marvel.
Thus, the test results showed the vessel to have a 2% average CO2 reduction sailing at 17 knots on a transpacific route, compared to operating an identical vessel at the same speed without the device installed.
MSC’s bow shield will be installed on board the Sydney VI, a 5,608 TEU vessel that was built in 1999.
The Sydney is currently at a dockyeard in China.
