21 Jul 2023by Riviera News
Damen will retrofit Amisco’s cargo vessel Danita with its Damen air cavity system (DACS)
The DACS air lubrication system was the result of a collaboration between Damen and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). It maintains a thin layer of air over the flat bottom of a vessel’s hull, reducing resistance in the water, thereby lowering drag and friction. As a result, the efficiency of the vessel is improved with fuel consumption reduced by up to 15%.
DACS offers vessel operators a straightforward solution, for both newbuild and existing vessels, to comply with regulations such as the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the EU Emission Trading System (ETS).
With DACS installed aboard Danita, Damen believes Amisco will achieve the CII rating necessary to continue operating in the Baltic Sea in the face of new, stricter emissions regulations.
Amisco chief executive Allan Noor said, “The air cavity system is a game-changer for us, allowing us to lower the fuel consumption and reduce the CO2 emissions of our current fleet. This marks the initial phase in our continuous commitment to delivering value to our partners through our existing fleet, while collectively minimising the environmental impact across the entire supply chain.”
Damen sales manager Rutger van Dam said, “We are proud to introduce this technology to the market. Reducing emissions is crucial for the future of our industry and DACS is a practical solution that can make a real difference.”
This is Damen’s first sale of the DACS and the Dutch shipbuilder was supported by Italian class society RINA during verification of the fuel saving results.
RINA marine commercial senior director Pino Spadafora said, “Supporting Damen and Amisco in the application of a technology such as the DACS system is an honour for RINA. Fuel optimisation is of paramount importance on existing vessels as much as newbuilds and co-operation within the industry is the way forward to finding new solutions”.
The retrofit will take place at Tallinn Shipyard in Estonia. Tallinn Shipyard member of the board Sergei Kravtṡenko said, “We are delighted our long-term partner, Estonia-based shipping company Amisco, has entrusted us with the installation of DACS system on board its vessel Danita.”
“From expertise and decades of experience, our skilled team was ready to handle the project. This cutting-edge technology will definitely enhance vessel performance and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. And we are proud to have been a part of the deal”.
Riviera’s two-day Maritime Decarbonisation, Europe: Conference, Awards & Exhibition 2023 returns to Amsterdam on 26-27 September 2023, seeking to bring clarity to regulatory directions and decarbonisation pathways for both newbuilds and existing vessels
