Vroon car carriers to get fuel-efficiency modifications
Vroon’s car carriers Monza Express and Sepang Express have recently completed dry-dockings and first special surveys at two shipyards in China. Monza Express docked at the IMC-YY yard on Zoushan Island, while Sepang Express spent ten days at the Haizhou shipyard on Daishan Island, the company said in its press release.
During these dockings, both vessels were fitted with highly accurate Coriolis flow meters to measure fuel consumption and a Torductor to measure shaft power. Furthermore, they received frequency drives for engine-room ventilation and seawater cooling pumps, aimed at reducing the power consumption.
Since the underwater area of Sepang Express contained large areas of old, rough anti‑fouling, it was decided to completely grit blast a number of square areas to bare steel in order to improve hull efficiency for future fuel saving.
In addition, Monza Express was fitted with a Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF) to improve propeller efficiency.
These modifications represent another step forward in making our modern PCTC fleet even more fuel efficient. The company has commenced a fuel-efficiency programme for the entire car carrier fleet. As part of this programme, all M-type car carriers will be fitted with a PBCF, resulting in a fuel saving of up to 5%. Vroon’s S-type car carriers are already equipped with stator fins for higher propulsion efficiency.
