Alfa Laval brings fluidic air lubrication technology benefits to shipowners

Alfa Laval announces the completion of its acquisition of Marine Performance Systems B.V., a Rotterdam-based maritime technology company that has developed the first fluidic air lubrication system on the market. The move will enable Alfa Laval to bring this environment-friendly technology to market contributing significantly towards improving ship efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing emissions from ships.

Empowering energy-efficient and sustainable shipping

Having acquired a minority stake in Marine Performance Systems B.V (MPS) in the year 2021, Alfa Laval has now taken the final step to fully integrate the company under its own brand. The acquisition will accelerate the advancement and introduction of the patented fluidic air lubrication system, FluidicAL into the market to support vessels to sail sustainably.

A ship’s friction when sailing is the most significant driver of its fuel consumption representing up to 60 per cent of a vessel’s operating expenditures. The advanced fluidic air lubrication system from MPS combines fluidics and air lubrication technologies to offer significant reductions in the ship’s friction when sailing. The system is unique in its use of fluidics to generate micro air bubbles with a high degree of control, maintaining an air layer that covers the full flat bottom area of the vessel for maximum effectiveness. The reduction of frictional resistance working on the ship's hull results in reduced fuel consumption.

"By adding air lubrication system into our portfolio, we are thrilled to further expand our offering of energy-efficient and sustainable solutions to our customers,” says Anders Lindmark, Business Unit President Heat & Gas Systems, Alfa Laval. “Since 2021, we have been closely supporting the development of MPS’ air lubrication technology and we are impressed with the performance of the fluidic air lubrication systems, we have installed on board vessels."

Maximizing cost savings and minimizing emissions

With its ability to provide shipowners with numerous benefits in one solution, the fluidic air lubrication technology is expected to have a significant impact on shipping decarbonization. By reducing the friction, air lubrication not only supports emission abatement but provides substantial fuel cost savings and improvement in overall ship efficiency, at a vessel’s normal service speed and a payback period below 3 years.

"In today's maritime industry, solutions that lower the operational costs and minimize emissions are more critical than ever. The air lubrication system from MPS is designed keeping in mind the needs and challenges of the shipping industry. It offers shipowners access to an easy-to-install solution that provides a perfect balance of operational and financial flexibility, while significantly reducing environmental emissions," says Anders.

The patented FluidicAL system requires no structural modifications or vessel recertification, which makes it ideal for retrofitting as well as for newbuilds. Having a minimal footprint and maximum flexibility, the system can be configured and optimised to the specific vessel’s design and operational profile ensuring integration with existing onboard technology seamlessly.

Enabling adherence to environmental regulations

Air lubrication technology is recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as an “Innovative Energy Efficiency Technology” to lower carbon emissions. The technology supports compliance with Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the reduction of carbon intensity to meet IMO's carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements. Besides this, the innovative fluidic air lubrication technology minimizes CO₂ emissions thereby helping in limiting CO₂ tax.

For further details about FluidicAL air lubrication technology, please visit: www.marineperformancesystems.com

To learn more about Alfa Laval’s environmental technologies and approach to sustainable shipping, please visit: www.alfalaval.com/marine

For further information, please contact:

Anders Lindmark

Business Unit President Heat and Gas Systems

Alfa Laval Marine Division

Phone: + 45 27 64 01 48

E-mail: anders.lindmark@alfalaval.com

Helena Sannicolo

Vice President Marketing Communications

Alfa Laval Marine Division

Phone: +46 70 569 3806

E-mail: helena.sannicolo@alfalaval.com

Editor’s notes

This is Alfa Laval

Alfa Laval is a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, and is active in the areas of Energy, Marine, and Food & Water, offering its expertise, products, and service to a wide range of industries in some 100 countries. The company is committed to optimizing processes, creating responsible growth, and driving progress to support customers in achieving their business goals and sustainability targets.

Alfa Laval’s innovative technologies are dedicated to purifying, refining, and reusing materials, promoting more responsible use of natural resources. They contribute to improved energy efficiency and heat recovery, better water treatment, and reduced emissions. Thereby, Alfa Laval is not only accelerating success for its customers, but also for people and the planet. Making the world better, every day.

Alfa Laval has 20,300 employees. Annual sales in 2022 were SEK 52.1 billion (approx. EUR 4.9 billion). The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

www.alfalaval.com