EcoNavis Solutions has officially kicked off production of its innovative Eco Boss Cap. Eco Boss Cap is a new propeller hub retrofit designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce cavitation. What began as a research initiative out of the University of Strathclyde has now moved from concept to commercial reality.
The first unit, destined for installation on a general cargo vessel, has been cast at a foundry in China using designs optimised entirely through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It is currently undergoing final machining ahead of factory acceptance tests later this month.
The cap tackles a long-standing issue in marine propulsion: hub vortex cavitation. This phenomenon not only causes rudder erosion and vibration, but also leads to thrust loss.
Unlike traditional fin-type boss caps, which often perform well only at specific speeds, the Eco Boss Cap features a clean, conical shape with internal chambers and carefully positioned holes. This allows it to adapt fluid dynamics around the propeller hub.
“Fin-type caps tend to generate drag outside their designed speed. We wanted to create something simpler and smarter. A passive system that could dynamically adapt without complexity or cost”, said Dr Batuhan Aktas, naval architect.
Early trials showed a 3.1% improvement in propeller efficiency and a 1.1% increase in thrust. Also, a 2% reduction in torque, and a 10% decrease in rudder cavitation.
“What we’ve created isn’t just another retrofit solution with bold efficiency claims, but rather a scalable propeller technology proven to reduce fuel costs across a broad speed range”, said Amitava Wye, EcoNavis’s Chief Operating Officer.
