MSC has ordered more than 30 Silverstream Systems by the British clean technology company Silverstream Technologies for its container ships aiming to cut 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
The air lubrication technology of the Silverstream System will be applied on existing orders of newbuild large container ships for the Swiss shipping company, saving more than US$293 million in fuel costs.
The vessels implementing the system are expected to be delivered from shipyards in Asia in the period between 2022 and 2024.
"Once launched, these newbuild vessels will be some of the most efficient container ships on the oceans," pointed out Founder & CEO of Silverstream Technologies, Noah Silberschmidt.
Silverstream’s technology saves 5-10% of fuel and emissions by generating a rigid carpet of air bubbles that reduce friction between the hull and the water, according to a statement.
Therefore, over the vessels’ lifecycle which is almost 25 years, a carbon emissions reduction of 1.6 million tonnes, equivalent to the annual emissions of 350,000 cars, could be achieved by having the Silverstream System onboard. During the same period, MSC is estimated that will save US$302 million in fuels.
Head of Newbuildings at MSC, Giuseppe Gargiulo claimed that air lubrication technology is one of the proven technologies that can help ships to achieve fuel savings and reduce energy losses, adding "With the right hull design and the substantial reduction in carbon emissions that the Silverstream System can offer, we’ve found the perfect match to fit our fleet with an effective efficiency solution, and move us closer to a zero-carbon future."
Furthermore, the system which is suitable for both newbuild applications and retrofit installations is effective in all sea conditions and has the highest utilisation rate.
Noah Silberschmidt commented that the order of more than 30 systems for MSC’s newbuild program is a landmark moment for both Silverstream and for clean technology adoption across shipping, while it is the single largest installation program that the British company has ever conducted.
