The European MRV regulation came into force on 1 January this year for vessels over 5,000 gt and while owners can save fuel by reducing speed, this can lower overall efficiency as the propeller is optimised for a higher speed.
Hydrex gave the example of a recent project on a 229 m bulker in Bremenhaven where the five-bladed propeller was modified to achieve optimum efficiency at lower speeds.
“A major benefit of this approach is that the work is carried out rapidly without the need to take the vessel out of service for drydocking, which is costly in terms of both time and money,” said Hydrex production executive Dave Bleyenberg.
“A propeller modification can easily be combined with any other maintenance or repair operation that needs to be carried out on the vessel.”
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