By
Alice Chambers |
Whales are able to move through water effortlessly thanks to their distinctive body shapes. With a robust structure to support their long pectoral fins, humpbacks move in the most dynamic and powerful way, with significant thrust and acceleration.
The idea of ship propulsion systems mimicking the movement of the whale tail has been around for a hundred years, according to ABB Marine, an electric, digital and connected solutions provider for shipowners.
But to turn an idea into a reality, the timing must be right; there needs to be a demand for such a product. The Cruise Lines International Association 2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report demonstrates just that, with 32 pilot projects and collaborative initiatives underway to test sustainable fuel and propulsion technology for cruise ships.
A notable initiative is the joint study conducted by ABB and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. ABB worked with the luxury cruise line to model ABB Dynafin, an electric propulsion concept inspired by the dynamic movements of a whale’s tail, with the potential to help ship operators significantly reduce fuel consumption.
The design of ABB Dynafin is inspired by the movements of a whale’s tail
“Our Dynafin propulsion concept and its blade design are the results of years of research and development in hydrodynamics,” says Tuomo Salmi, global commercial manager for Compact Azipod and Dynafin sales for marine propulsion at ABB. “Dynafin is the latest addition to ABB’s propulsion portfolio, which includes a state-of-the-art Azipod propulsion product range aimed at extending our offering and future-proofing new ship designs.”
The concept solution features a large wheel connected to five vertical blades, each of which is operated by an individual motor and control system. The wheel is also powered by an electric motor and rotates at 30 to 80 rounds per minute. The combined motion of the wheel and the blades generates propulsion and steering forces simultaneously, and can be optimised for different ship types, hull shapes and operational requirements.
The ABB and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection study found that Dynafin would yield significant hydrodynamic performance improvements for its latest cruise yacht, Ilma. The vessel required 12 per cent less propulsion power, achieving a 40-tonne weight saving and freeing up over 90 cubic metres of space for alternative use. Salmi also anticipates a strong operational profile that allows for longer service intervals, further reducing lifetime costs.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection tested the Dynafin solution on its latest ship Ilma
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has agreed to continue providing ABB with operational data to support and develop the concept further.
“We are committed to supporting developments that improve energy efficiency and thereby reduce the carbon footprint of our industry,” says Tobias King, vice president of newbuild for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “The findings align with our expectations: a significant reduction in fuel consumption and air emissions on the itineraries we are planning for Ilma.
“With the Dynafin concept, we also see other potential benefits linked to manoeuvrability, position keeping, reliability and improved comfort for our guests staying onboard. We will continue our support of this technology development as it progresses further and will certainly consider this solution as we develop our future concepts as well as retrofits, if this becomes a possibility. We are also paying close attention to developments on sustainable fuels and working with other suppliers such as Chantiers de l’Atlantique, DNV and Wärtsilä to achieve this.”
Salmi adds: “We are proud to have collaborated with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in a study that validates the Dynafin propulsion concept. We uncovered the benefits of increased propulsion efficiency, the potential for more efficient arrangement of guest and crew spaces, and savings of 710 tonnes of LNG fuel based on the ship’s operational profile and reduced propulsion power consumption.”
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.