Lloyd’s Register (LR) has independently verified the fuel-saving capabilities of the Damen Air Cavity System (DACS), marking the second verification for the air lubrication system. This assessment follows an earlier confirmation by another classification society, highlighting the potential of air lubrication technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Last year, the DACS was installed on Amisco’s cargo vessel Danita in Estonia. Data collected during Danita’s sea trials showed significant fuel savings. To further substantiate these findings, Damen provided the same data to LR, who conducted an independent verification using their methodologies.
LR’s verification corroborated earlier results, demonstrating a 7-8% reduction in fuel consumption at the vessel’s typical operating speeds. This consistency in findings underscores the reliability of the DACS efficiency.
The increased fuel efficiency also translates to considerable reductions in emissions. This makes compliance with environmentally focused regulations, such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), more attainable.
Maarten Veenstra, Business Development Manager at LR, said: “Damen’s decision to have DACS verified by more than one classification society provides the market with increased confidence in the potential of air lubrication. Given the current challenges posed to maritime operators by various environmental regulations, there is a compelling case for investing in energy-saving technologies with proven credentials.”
Rutger van Dam, responsible for business development at Damen Green Solutions, added: “With these considerable savings in fuel, DACS offers vessel owners a reduced emissions operation with a rapid return on investment within approximately three years of installation.”