BV AiP for GILLS air lubrication system

GILLS, which stands for gas injected liquid lubrication systems, deploys National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics profiles to create self-generating micro-bubbles which have a ‘hull-tightening’ effect, reducing drag and energy requirements.

The AiP covers the design of the system and installation on board vessels as reviewed against the Bureau Veritas Rules for Steel Ships NR 467 (updated in January 2021). “The GILLS systems has been installed on an existing vessel for a number of years now and the vessel owners are confident the fuel savings are approximately 10%,” said David Barrow, SE Asia Zone vice-president for Bureau Veritas.

The ‘hull-tightening effect’ is caused by the microbubbles created by the vortex generator installed at the bow of the ship. “The GILLS Air Lubrication System is a nature-based innovative technology that not only uses the micro bubbles to reduce the drag, emissions, fuel and biofouling, but it also utilises the ship speed to generate a negative pressure and minimises the required external compressor power,” said Peter Kneipp, managing director of GILLS PTE.

“We are greatly confident that GILLS will be a valuable contributor for practically every ship type to improve the EEDI /EEXI IMO Index. GILLS can also be retrofitted to existing ships as well as new vessels,” he added.