Maersk Line to cut off some container ship bulbous bows as part of initiatives already implemented across its fleet to reduce fuel costs.
Research carried out by Maersk Maritime Technology found that the bulbous hull form – initially developed to even out the waves created alongside the vessel and thus reduce the power requirement – is incongruent with initiatives to improve energy efficiency.
Writing in the Maersk Post, The Danish shipowner says it can shave up to 2% off the bunker bill by replacing the bulb with a new design. However, because retrofits will be both costly and time-consuming, individual business cases will have to be developed for each class of containership.
These changes are being made at China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry.