Silverstream taps into the Chinese market for air lubrication retrofits 

UK-based maritime clean technology player Silverstream Technologies has partnered up with China’s Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou), part of China Merchants Group, having signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive retrofit installations of the former’s air lubrication system (ALS).

As disclosed, the Silverstream System—applicable for both retrofits and newbuilds—reduces frictional resistance between the water and the hull surface, minimizing net fuel consumption and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an average of 5-10%.

The system—which received a nod of approval from the China Classification Society (CCS) in October 2023—is also described as being “fuel agnostic”, and suitable for all shipping segments.

Yiu Lian Dockyards operates repair yards in Shekou, Shenzhen, in southeastern China. As understood, the entity accepts all ship types for repairs, with a large number of them being liquefied natural gas carriers (LNGCs), which are said to have a scheduled dry docking every five years after delivery.

According to Yiu Lian, this time window presents a “good opportunity” to retrofit clean technologies and improve vessels’ energy efficiency.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving fuel have become top priorities for shipowners and operators. Each year, we see growing interest from owners in retrofitting clean technologies on the vessels that visit our yards. We’re excited to now offer our customers the ability to facilitate installations of this innovative system,” Xu Rong, Vice GM, Yiu Lian Dockyards, highlighted.

Silverstream Technologies’ air lubrication system has gained attention from numerous companies seeking ways to improve their fleets’ efficiency—both operational and environmental.

In April this year, the company’s system was fitted onto a 174k cbm LNG carrier at Seatrium’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore. The retrofitting reportedly took 30 days to finish and was said to be the 11th retrofit of Silverstream’s solution worldwide.

More recently, specifically in August, the British cleantech player bagged an order for its air lubrication system to be equipped onto eighteen 271,000 cbm QC-Max class LNG carriers.

As informed, these will be the ‘first’ LNG carriers of their size to be wholly designed, built, maintained, and serviced in China.