Wärtsilä and Silverstream to collaborate on accelerating deployment of air lubrication technology
The technology group Wärtsilä, and Silverstream Technologies, the leading air lubrication solution provider, today announced the signing of a Licence and Co-operation Agreement for future sales and servicing of the Silverstream System. As an authorised sales and service partner, Wärtsilä intends to fully integrate Silverstream’s air lubrication system within its propulsion solutions, the company said in its release.
By offering the Silverstream System as an integral part of Wärtsilä’s propulsion solution for newbuild vessels, compliance with the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) will be further improved. Under the agreement, the Silverstream System will also be available through Wärtsilä’s sales channels for retrofit installations on existing vessels where Wärtsilä is a primary solution provider. The integrated Silverstream System is expected to realise synergies in capital and operational savings across the propulsion chain by increasing fuel efficiency, and optimising engine loading.
This new collaborative partnership will accelerate the deployment of air lubrication systems across all vessel classes, from small bulk vessels to the largest container ships. By combining Wärtsilä’s propulsion expertise and Silverstream’s innovative engineering knowledge, access to this clean technology will be facilitated across the market.
Going forward, the collaboration agreement will enable current and future Silverstream customers to access Wärtsilä’s global service network for the maintenance of their Silverstream System installations. Wärtsilä’s network of service centres, workshops, and service professionals is the most extensive in the maritime industry, with 4500 field service professionals located in 70 countries around the world.
The agreement means that more ship owners will have easy access to Silverstream’s proven air lubrication technology. The system has been proven to reduce fuel burn and associated emissions by 5 to 10%, depending on vessel type.
The Silverstream System creates a carpet of microbubbles that coat the entire flat bottom of the vessel. This carpet reduces frictional resistance between the hull and the water, dramatically reducing fuel consumption and related emissions. The technology works in all maritime conditions, is not weather dependent, and does not constrain or negatively impact the normal operational profile of the vessel.
Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2018, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
About Silverstream Technologies
Silverstream Technologies has pioneered air lubrication within shipping for over ten years, and has invested significantly in the research and development, and testing of air lubrication for ships. The Silverstream® System reduces frictional resistance between the water and the hull surface, dramatically reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions. The Silverstream® System is unique in that it is the only proven air lubrication technology that can be retrofitted in 10 days or less, as well as being applicable for newbuildings. It lasts the lifetime of the ship, is complementary to and can be used in conjunction with other clean technologies, and return on investment is typically between two and five years.
