CHEK technologies demonstrated experimentally and sailing on real vessels
Project CHEK is leading the way in maritime decarbonization by combining innovative ship design and modern technologies working in synergies with the ambition of phasing out greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from long-distance shipping. Wind propulsion, hydrogen propulsion, waste heat recovery, battery electric power, hull air lubrication, ultrasound anti-fouling technology, and digitally-led operational improvements will be used in combination to demonstrate a possible reduction GHG emissions by 99%, and save at least 50% energy consumption.
During the last six months project CHEK has been deploying technologies on real life vessels and is demonstrating impact on real vessels.
To conduct and evaluate the development of technologies, Deltamarin has been, in cooperation with all Chek partners, specifying the necessary data and planning for the experiments to be conducted both onboard and in-lab. The purpose of this is to ensure that vessel demonstrations yield meaningful results, and the data provided will feed the final “generation” of digital models generated about the two CHEK vessels.
HASYTEC’s ultrasound antifouling system hull prototype was successfully deployed and is currently being tested on the cruise and bulker vessels. Divers are now regularly conducting inspections to verify the effects of the system, while the company’s on-site engineers are performing software updates, to ensure the hull is kept clean. This improves ship performance, and also prevents the spread of invasive species from one location to another.
Cruise itinerary optimisation is a cutting-edge tool, developed and tested by MSC Cruises, which enables optimal itinerary planning taking into consideration environmental performance, commercial and technical aspects. The tool proof-of-concept demonstrated the functional integration of the simulated data into the automated route planning existing onboard. Further updates of the automated route planning software have been carried out by Wartsila to unlock the full potential from other CHEK technologies, in particular wind-assisted propulsion for the Kamsarmax bulker.
Silverstream Technologies, provider of the air lubrication system (ALS) and part of the drag reduction technologies group within the CHEK project, performed experimental lab testing in the project’s early stages. No physical installation of the Silverstream® System within the CHEK project had been planned, however, Silverstream developed a revised air distribution solution for the project. In the coming months, this revised system will be installed on Silverstream’s next bulker project. The performance evaluation of the revised system will form a feedback loop to CHEK.
Wärtsilä has demonstrated, developed, and optimized their engine operations using hydrogen as fuel in their state-of-the-art laboratory test facilities. These advancements showcase the potential of hydrogen propulsion in reducing emissions and driving sustainable energy solutions.
Equipped with data from the CHEK vessels’ operational patterns, Climeon has during the last period performed laboratory tests to demonstrate and verify the performance of its waste heat recovery systems in practical operation.
Looking ahead, CHEK’s focus for the next six months includes optimizing the power plant onboard, and installing fixed-wing sails on the Pyxis Ocean. Additionally, has now developed initial models for the Life Cycle Assessment of both vessels, which are currently under review. These assessments will evaluate environmental performance and emissions reduction potential of technologies working synergistically.
Further progress and updates about these developments will be communicated at www.projectchek.eu
Similar posts
As part of the project CHEK’s wing sail technology the bulk carrier Pyxis Ocean has set sail to demonstrate for the first time the unique three-element Wind Wings technology as part of project CHEK.
Following the detailed outlook of the various technologies and shipping aspects developed during the first year of CHEK, the installation of these technologies has started taking place. At design level, the digital master (2nd generation model) of future-proof Kamsarmax and Meraviglia vessels has been built based on real operational data of the Kamsarmax bulker and Meraviglia cruise ship, targeting the optimisation of ship performance with regards to emissions through digital design means. The combination of this digital master with real-life data will lead to the development of a ‘Digital Twin’ which will include the design of experiments to be conducted in real vessel demonstrations.
From 30-31 August, the World Maritime University (WMU) hosted a two-day international seminar on the role of green technologies and capacity building in maritime decarbonization.