Alfa Laval has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korean shipyard K Shipbuilding (KSB) for collaboration with respect to entering Alfa Laval OceanGlide Air Lubrication System in KSB’s potential newbuilding projects such as MR and LR1 Tankers.

In 2023, Alfa Laval acquired Marine Performance Systems B.V., a Rotterdam-based maritime technology company that developed the first fluidic air lubrication system on the market. Alfa Laval had taken a minority stake in 2021. (Earlier post.)

KSB seeks to leverage the benefits offered by OceanGlide to achieve its objective of improving a vessel’s energy efficiency and performance by reducing the vessel’s frictional resistance while sailing by using air lubrication technology.

OceanGlide uses intelligent integration of fluidics with air lubrication to enhance the vessel’s propulsion power savings by up to 12%. This translates to lower fuel consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions and improved EEDI, EEXI and CII compliance.

OceanGlide divides the vessel’s flat bottom into sections, each with its own air distribution band. At the rear of each band is a row of fluidic oscillators, which are the individual air distribution units. Through fluidics, the oscillators produce tiny, uniform bubbles using very little compressor power. Since the bubbles coalesce almost instantly when leaving the oscillator, they create an even and homogenous air layer.

Air distribution bands offer the best possible setup for reducing friction in real-life conditions. With their hydrodynamic, wing-shaped profile, the bands add almost no drag when the air lubrication system is switched off. More importantly, each band can be steered independently, which allows optimization of the air layer by section. Together with the reduced number of compressors needed (1–3 on average), this maximizes the energy efficiency and propulsion power savings achieved with OceanGlide.