Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its marine equipment trading company MOL Techno-Trade have accrued 3,000 orders for the Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) since its introduction in 1987.
The PBCF is an energy-saving device attached to the propeller of a vessel.
It breaks up the hub vortex generated behind the rotating propeller, resulting in a decrease of more than 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year because of a 3-5% reduction in fuel consumption, when installed on a large-scale container ship, according to MOL.
The PBCF was jointly developed by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory, and Nakashima-Mitsuwa Propeller. Research and development on the PBCF started in 1986, and sales began the following year.
The MOL Group is currently promoting its next-generation vessel concept called Sempaku ISHIN, and the PBCF is one of its key technologies.
Mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping were adopted at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) IMO environment meeting on July 15, 2011, and MOL believes that regulations on greenhouse gas emissions by the ocean shipping will make the PBCF even more sought-after in the future.