EcoNavis lands first Eco Boss Cap contract

The device will be retrofitted to a general cargo carrier operated by a Thailand-based ship manager, who has placed two purchase orders and is evaluating installations for five additional vessels.

Dr Batuhan Aktas, founder and chief executive of EcoNavis Solutions, said the contract was a significant milestone for the company. “The ship operators’ interest came directly in response to our earlier work, which speaks volumes about both the industry need and the credibility of the energy efficiency results we’ve achieved,” he said.

The retrofit is scheduled for mid-August at a Chinese shipyard near Shanghai. EcoNavis engineers will oversee the installation and initial operation, with sea trials planned shortly after.

The 177-metre vessel’s 5-metre diameter propeller will be fitted with the Eco Boss Cap, which features a patented conical design incorporating internal chambers and angled holes to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and cavitation – a common cause of underwater noise and rudder erosion.

Developed through extensive computational fluid dynamics analysis and validated in European testing facilities, the Eco Boss Cap has reportedly demonstrated efficiency gains of up to 5% across varying speeds. Unlike traditional fin-based boss caps, Eco Boss Cap manages water flow internally, eliminating torque penalties and simplifying manufacturing.

The cap is cast as a single piece, enabling installation during a standard drydock within six hours. This cost-efficient production results in a payback period of less than a year for typical handy-size bulk carriers.

Headquartered in Scotland, EcoNavis has secured over £550,000 in funding and is actively pursuing partnerships worldwide. Naval architect and chief operating officer Amitavo Wye said the product addresses critical regulatory compliance without disruption, marking the start of a new era in ship efficiency.