Finnish engineering company Elomatic has been selected by Denmark’s Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (DFDS) to install its Elogrid tunnel thrusters on the MS Crown Seaways cruise ferry.
The ferry, which operates on the international Denmark-Norway route, will see an improvement in its energy efficiency and a reduction in its carbon emissions after the installation of the technology, according to Elomatic.
Elomatic’s Marine and Offshore Energy sales director, Guido Schulte, said it was an honour to support DFDS in its decarbonisation initiatives, adding: “Our Elogrid solution significantly reduces water resistance and fuel consumption from ships and demonstrates how even a small piece of equipment, developed using advanced modelling, can deliver a valuable impact on GHG emissions.”
As well as improving the manoeuvrability of the vessel by enhancing the tunnel thrusters, the Elogird solution will also reduce noise and vibrations throughout the ferry, something Elomatic claims will not only improve the passenger experience but also increase the lifespan of equipment onboard.
The slight emissions reduction offered by the technology falls in line with DFDS’ wider Climate Action Plan which includes the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, in line with industry standards and a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 45% in 2030.
Moshe Poulsen, superintendent and responsible for the MS Crown Seaways and the docking, said: “We are committed to reducing our impact on the climate. In the short term, improving our existing fleet and making it pollute less and be more efficient is a focus area – even at smaller scales.
“To this end, the Elogrid solution supports the efficiency of Crown Seaways and will reduce fuel consumption with around 1% and hence support our green transition journey.”
The contract with DFDS continues Elomatic’s work in the maritime decarbonisation sector, following an agreement with the Finnish regional government of Åland to carry out a feasibility study on the use of a hybrid propulsion system for its ferry service in July.
