Silverstream CEO: Air bubble tech particularly fit for LNG carriers

Although compatible with all oceangoing vessel types, the air lubrication technology is especially suitable for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, Noah Silberschmidt, CEO of Silverstream Technologies, revealed in an interview with Offshore Energy – Green Marine.

It has been proven that the Silverstream System, an air lubrication system developed by the UK-based cleantech firm, reduces fuel burn and associated emissions by five to ten percent, depending on ship type.

As explained, air lubrication fundamentally changes the interaction between water and a vessel’s hull, shearing air from air release units (ARUs) in the hull to create a rigid carpet of microbubbles that coats the full flat bottom of a vessel. As a result, frictional resistance is decreased – dramatically reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions.

“This means that the Silverstream System can be used on any ship with a substantial flat bottom area, which includes a huge proportion of the global fleet,” Silberschmidt said.

“Generally, ships that operate more quickly will see slightly higher savings. This makes our technology particularly compelling for the LNG segment, for example.”

Unlike many other technologies on the market, the Silverstream System is said to be suitable for both newbuild process and retrofit installations. For retrofit projects, all structural integration work is completed during the normal drydocking period.

“We have built the Silverstream System to be flexible and modular, and easily accommodated within a vessel design. As a first step, Silverstream engineers complete an initial evaluation of estimated savings and outline system design within two weeks of receipt of vessel information and its operating profile. Our engineers then provide an assessment of the savings across a range of speeds for ballast and laden conditions,” Silberschmidt added.

The evaluation methodology was developed using research carried out with HSVA, in addition to comprehensive testing data obtained over a 2.5-year period of system operation, to ensure an accurate efficiency savings figure is obtained.

World’s 1st VLOC air bubble system installation – project outcomes

Silverstream recently fitted its air lubrication technology on the Vale-chartered newbuild ore carrier Sea Victoria. The installation is the first time that any air lubrication technology has been deployed on a very large ore carrier (VLOC).

The VLOC completed its first voyage in August 2021.

Commenting on the project outcomes, Silberschmidt said:

“While we are still receiving and amalgamating performance data on the Silverstream System from high frequency data collectors and sensors onboard Vale’s Sea Victoria VLOC, we can say with confidence that the clean technology is already increasing the fuel efficiency of the vessel.”

“Once the system is fully operational, and in line with our pre-installation predictions, we believe that it will generate a fuel burn reduction of around 5-8%.”

Silverstream CEO informed that one of the greatest challenges of the project was overcoming the disruption to the supply chain caused by COVID-19. In order to install the system on Sea Victoria despite the circumstances, the firm worked with a number of organisations during installation, including Pan Ocean, naval architects Shanghai Ship Design Research Institute (SDARI), as well as New Times Shipbuilding and Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou) Ltd.

Following the successful first installation, Vale also unveiled plans to equip the rest of its fleet with air lubrication technology. The installation of the system across Vale’s entire fleet would enable it to achieve a 4.4 percent reduction in annual emissions from the maritime transport of iron ore.

Clean technologies are no longer “a speculative solution”

From tankers to cruise ships, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, dry bulk carriers, and most recently LNG carriers, the system has been successfully installed as both a newbuild and retrofit solution.

The cleantech firm believes that the Silverstream System, which has now been adopted by companies including Shell, MSC, Maersk, Carnival, Grimaldi, Finnlines, and Vale, will play a critical role in the shipping industry’s decarbonization roadmap.

“The message is clear: no matter the fuel, clean technologies have the power to reduce fuel bills and emissions, provide operational flexibility to vessels, and increase profitability for ship owners and fuel payers,” Silverstream CEO continued.

“Clean technologies are no longer a speculative solution for the future,” he stressed.

According to Silberschmidt, the Sea Victoria installation further reinforces that proven clean technologies are not only vital for ship owners and operators looking to meet new energy efficiency regulations; it will also enable them to retain their competitive advantage, particularly with a view to the expected changes in the fuel mix in the near future.

“The growing demand for the system throughout the pandemic clearly highlights the industry’s appetite for proven clean technologies to tackle the increasing environmental pressures it is experiencing,” Noah concluded.

Collaboration for decarbonization

As an advocated clean technology recognised under the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newbuilds, and as one of the key means for current vessels to improve their efficiency, air lubrication technology will undoubtedly be a critical tool in helping ship owners and operators meet the IMO’s 2050 decarbonisation targets, Silberschmidt pointed out.

In order to effectively decarbonize the shipping industry, a united approach is critical, he stated.

“This is something that we have implemented since our founding over a decade ago. Developing a global team of diverse maritime industry experts, engineers, naval architects and innovators has been crucial to scaling our technology and increasing our reputability.”

As informed, the approach proved its worth during the pandemic, as the company’s relationship with yards and consultants on the ground enabled Silverstream not only to succeed during one of the industry’s most challenging years to date but also to install its technology remotely.

“From the beginning we knew that one of the largest obstacles we needed to overcome was proving the claims that we were making about our technology. A history of misrepresented fuel and emissions savings, or outright non-functional clean technology, had fostered distrust in these solutions in the market,” Silberschmidt remarked.

“The value of third-party verification of our technology with support from classification societies like DNV, Lloyd’s Register, RINA, ABS, and Korean Register has always therefore been non-negotiable to the way we do business. We have never communicated a fuel or emissions saving that we cannot prove from in-operational testing, which we conduct with organisations including Shell, Grimaldi Group, and Carnival Corporation.”

Speaking about the new CII requirements, the company believes that applying its technology on a vessel could help it to move one grade up in the CII regulation: from a B to an A, for instance. This is a significant jump for a single technology to be able to generate, according to Silberschmidt.

“The industry must therefore get behind proven clean technologies as part of the solution towards maritime decarbonisation. In return, clean technology manufacturers should ensure they are fulfilling their promises.”

“With this in mind, every element of the system has been comprehensively studied, proven and communicated to the market. Silverstream makes no efficiency claims that it cannot conclusively verify with in-operation data.”

Scaling up air lubrication technology

Silverstream has witnessed significant business growth over the past few years. Offshore Energy – Green Marine wanted to know more about the company’s expectations for meeting the future demand for this type of technology.

“From our first successful initial trial installation on the Danebrog Rederi tanker MT Amalienborg, to this year’s industry first with Vale, every day takes us closer to our goal of the Silverstream System becoming a standard on newbuild ships,” Silberschmidt noted.

“Our rapidly scaling team and growing orderbook with some of the biggest names in shipping highlights just how far we have come, and where we are going,” he said, adding that agility and ambition are at the forefront of the company’s strategy to support future demand as well as existing clients.

“As part of this, we have worked to develop robust links across our supply chain and with key OEM partners to help serve increased customer demand. This includes our agreement with Wärtsilä to license and service our technology, which further expands our global reach and remit.”

To further scale its technology, Silverstream Technologies is involved in a number of key innovative projects. This includes working at a regulatory level to drive clean technology standards through the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Global Industry Alliance (GIA), participation at the Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) meeting during COP26, and joining the CHEK consortium led by the University of Vaasa to accelerate shipping’s decarbonisation pathway.

The company disclosed it has 67 commercial contracts confirmed and this number is rapidly rising.