Air-lubrication of a ship’s hull really does pay off with significant fuel savings. Just a few days ago NYK Line announced that trials of the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS)  in not one, but two of its module carriers in a variety of normal operating conditions over a two-year period had been completed and confirmed an average 6% reduction in fuel consumption. Long Term Operational Trial An air-lubrication system was installed in each of twin-designed NYK-Hinode Line ocean-going vessels, the 19,800 dwt diesel-engined heavy equipment carriers ‘Yamatai’ and ‘Yamato’; the first in March 2010, and the other in the following November. MV Yamatai: Photo credit NYK Line These two ships are special heavy load carriers with roll-on, roll-off rampways for the transport of large prefabricated structures. Their propulsion system is by twin shaft CPP propellors, powered by a pair of Daihatsu 6DKM36 diesel engines, maximum rating 3.218 KW at 600/196 ... [More]