Propeller coating sea trials begin

COSCO Shipping Energy and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences have joined forces on the ‘Research on Propeller Skin/Coating Resistance Reduction and Energy Saving Technology’ project to help shipping meet its decarbonisation targets.

The project is one of a number of endeavours the two are jointly pursing and aims to test the use of bionic liquid slip drag reduction coating material to alter the shear resistance between propeller and water and thus reduce energy requirements.

Following development and testing in the lab of the formula the material has been applied to the surface coating of the very large crude carrier, Mt Yuanjinhu’s propeller ready for sea trials.

Data collected during the trials and earlier test phase will be reviewed to see how effective the material is at reducing energy loss, enhancing propeller efficiency, decreasing fuel consumption and mitigating air bubble corrosion on propellers.