Future engines
Lloyd’s Register has talked for some time now of the paradigm shift facing the shipping industry as it faces a changing future for propulsive technology. For a long time deep sea ships have had a large slow speed engine with three auxilliaries. Will this be challenged? Yes, but change will not happen overnight. Certainly,greater efficiency is being demanded and being developed. And innovation is taking place across all engine types and we will see new arrangements.
Lloyd’s Register has talked for some time now of the paradigm shift facing the shipping industry as it faces a changing future for propulsive technology. For a long time deep sea ships have had a large slow speed engine with three auxilliaries. Will this be challenged? Yes, but change will not happen overnight. Certainly,greater efficiency is being demanded and being developed. And innovation is taking place across all engine types and we will see new arrangements.
New engines and new approaches to propulsion will emerge as realistic commercial options. Lloyd’s Register is working with an owner on the first project using MAN’s new, longer stroke, ‘G’ type engines which allow the use of a larger screw providing potential fuel savings in the 4-7% range.
LNG, of course, has been making the headlines.
Although most innovation has been in small ferries and offshore vessels – the medium speed engine scene is more evolved as gas, so far, has been focused on very small applications mainly in Norway – slow speed gas engines capable of powering large ships are now being marketed by engine manufacturers.
Lloyds Register is of course working on the biggest gas engine application to come to market, in Viking Lines 56,000 gt, 53 MW, large ferry project now under construction at STX Finland. It remains to be seen whether large oil tankers, bulk carriers and containerships will be powered by gas.
We now see hybrid options emerging: gas engines are alongside diesels and the use of wind as auxiliary power is emerging – in kites, sails and Flettner rotors. Biofuels are on the table: the US Navy has made a firm commitment to use substantial quantities and Lloyd’s Register has been working with Maersk to understand biofuel performance.
The use of methanol is being investigated and the potential for fuel cells and electrical ships is being explored and we can expect to see orders placed soon for the latter.
So, owners options are expanding fast with a growing menu on the engine buffet table – or, as they say in some parts of Scandinavia, the koldtbord or smörgaståble.
As with fuels, decision making will be driven by a combination of price and performance and there are many different and competing agendas at play.
Lloyd’s Register’s role is to help the ndustry by providing independent technology leadership with verification of design and performance claims.
On the following page we look at what a Norwegian engine maker is doing to increase the options for owners.