Investment course: Japan’s shipping giant places bet on smart hull elements for lower emissions

Japan’s shipping heavyweight Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has taken another step forward with its decarbonization vision by investing in 13 Mari, a US-headquartered developer of ‘smart’ elements that can be retrofitted to ships’ hulls and achieve an ‘enhanced’ environmental impact.

As disclosed, the ripple-shaped Flowsmart element made by 13 Mari is a device that ‘enhances’ propulsion efficiency by preventing the creation of larger vortices, which cause increased drag, by attaching element protrusions to a vessel and forcibly generating small vortices in the surrounding water flow.

The solution relies on the technology incorporated into the shape of aircraft wings and used as aero parts for automobiles. Since it is based on the concept of controlling the water flow near a vessel’s hull to minimize drag, MOL explained that the device could restore the original performance of the ship.

With this solution, the Japanese major anticipates achieving a greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel consumption reduction of 3-7% on units retrofitted with 10 or 20 of the elements as well as ‘stable’ navigation.

The percentage could go even higher when Flowsmart elements are paired with currently available energy-saving devices like wind propulsion systems and various types of fins, the company added.

As informed, given the fact that all types of ships—both newbuilds and in-service vessels—can be retrofitted with Flowsmart elements and that this process does not involve large capital investments or retrofitting work, 13 Mari’s solution has the potential to be used across a number of segments of the shipping industry, such as dry bulk, energy and product transport.

It is understood that Flowsmart could be “particularly effective” on small and medium-sized ships where it has been difficult to introduce wind propulsion systems due to their limited device and equipment layout space, and in the dry-bulk segment where the implementation of next-generation fuels has been slower because of restrictions related to the design and creation of new ship types and ports of call.

As part of the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2”, the Tokyo-headquartered shipping player has endeavored to take the necessary steps to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 by ‘consistently’ turning to energy-saving and other kinds of green technologies as well as investing in not just eco-friendly solutions but also in start-ups focused on engineering decarbonization technologies via its US-based subsidiary, MOL Switch.

Just days before the company revealed its investment in 13 Mari, MOL shared that it had poured money into California-based Twelve Benefit Corporation, a venture developing synthetic fuels (e-fuels) and chemicals, as a way to strengthen its foothold in regards to the promotion (and adoption) of clean energy sources.

Aside from also being backed by MOL Switch, Twelve has also been supported by Mitsui & Co., Development Bank of Japan, Advantage Partners, and Toppan Global Venture Partners.

This was not the first time that the Japanese company splashed out on synthetic fuel specialists. In September 2024, MOL invested in another US-based maker of e-fuels, HIF Global. As explained, the aim was to cut down on carbon emissions by promoting the establishment of a ‘robust’ e-fuel and CO2 supply chain.