Soaring energy costs, more stringent emission regulations and conservation efforts are current topics in every media outlet. With crude oil prices around $120 per barrel, the question arises — what should the U.S. shipbuilding industry do to address those issues to its customers? Only a few years ago, consumption and efficiency were just two of many criteria when it came to the design of a new vessel. Today, however, they have great importance when a new design is on the drawing board. Before we answer the above questions, let's define the status quo. The vast majority of vessels built worldwide are outfitted with diesel propulsion and conventional shaft line. This method of propulsion for long haul trade has been proven over many years as the most efficient and cost-optimized solution.
