Maritime clean technology leader Silverstream Technologies has surpassed 200 orders for its air lubrication system with its latest confirmed deal. The Silverstream System will be installed onboard 18 new 271kcbm “QC-Max” class LNG carriers, which will be chartered by a global energy company and owned and operated by shipping majors.
Silverstream’s current orderbook includes 57 LNG carriers, spans 9 vessel segments, and includes 20 repeat customers, including 7 major ship owners and 13 of the world’s largest shipyards. The company also has 82 systems in operation onboard the existing fleet.
Over the total lifetime of all contracted vessels, Silverstream estimates that its air lubrication technology will save its current customer base almost $5 billion in fuel costs and prevent the emission of over 19 million tonnes of CO2. Additionally, this CO2 reduction is projected to save approximately $2 billion through existing carbon tax systems.
It is reported that the above 18 271kcbm QC-Max LNG carriers were ordered by QatarEnergy from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), with a total order value of nearly $6 billion and a single ship cost of about $333 million. Eight of the vessels in the order are expected to be delivered in 2028 and 2029, while the other 10 are expected to be delivered in 2030 and 2031.
The Silverstream System shears air from air release units (ARUs) in the hull to create a uniform carpet of microbubbles that coats the full flat bottom of a vessel. As a result, frictional resistance is decreased, cutting average net fuel consumption and GHG emissions by 5-10%. The system is fuel agnostic, effective in all sea states, and is applicable to all shipping segments.
As the shipping industry’s decarbonisation transition progresses, evolving regulatory and market drivers are strengthening the rationale for adopting vessel fuel efficiency solutions. LNG carriers could fall into non-compliant categories (D and E) of the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) framework, largely because of the way in which they handle boil-off gas. Meanwhile, the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) is adding a progressive cost to emissions, increasing in scope from 40% of emissions in 2024 to 70% in 2025 and 100% in 2026. This means that technologies such as the Silverstream System not only lower fuel consumption and emissions, but also help to cut the costs of regulatory compliance.
According to recent Clarksons data, at least 33% of the world’s ships are fitted with a form of energy saving device by gross tonnage, but the number of vessels is only 8700, compared to a global fleet of 110,500.
By sector, container ships have seen the highest clean technology uptake with over 48% of fleet capacity fitted with at least one solution, followed by tankers and cruise ships, both over 38%, and bulkers over 35%. Air lubrication systems are attracting growing interest from shipowners with 500 systems either in operation or set to be installed on newbuilds on order.
The Silverstream System, which makes up a significant proportion of the industry’s ALS uptake, is suitable for both retrofit and newbuild installations.
Noah Silberschmidt, Founder & CEO, Silverstream Technologies said: “Silverstream was founded in 2010 with a vision to have a positive impact on shipping’s decarbonisation journey. Surpassing over 200 orders is a significant milestone for us, highlighting the tangible emissions and cost savings we have delivered for shipowners and operators. This achievement also demonstrates the meaningful impact we are making on the industry’s green transition. Our market-leading Silverstream System is fast becoming a standard choice on newbuild vessels and a leading retrofit option improving vessel efficiency and sustainability.”