“We believe that improvedperformance can be achieved through innovative thinking, enabling a dynamicfleet that lives up to its full potential,” Clipper said.

One such initiative was thebulbous bow and rudder bulb modifications made on a G-type 9,100 dwt multipurposecarrier, Clipper Galaxy (built 2011).

The Danish shipowner carriedout the modifications to the ship during a dry-docking at Lixin Shipyard inShanghai.

The existing bulb was cutoff and a new bulb with a different size and shape was fitted. Clipper also fitteda rudder bulb which improved propeller efficiency by 2-3%.

“The bulbous bow bulb is avery important part of the hull as it can potentially reduce the hullresistance considerably, or affect the resistance in a negative way,” saidClipper.

“Designing the perfect bulbis delicate and the efficiency depends on the speed and loading/draught of thevessel.

“In the past a bulb wasusually designed and optimized to full speed and close to full load condition.

“However, most vessels areoperated at eco-speed in part load conditions. In particular multipurposevessels are seldom operated in full load conditions.”

Clipper claim the saving fromthe bulb modification alone would be above 10%, but trim optimization outweighssome of the disadvantages of the old bulb.

“The actual saving will alsovary depending on loading and speed conditions. However, looking at theconsumption before and after the modifications, as well as the current loadingand speed patterns, the overall saving is around impressive 8.5% - includingthe rudder bulb effect.”

Clipper added that its performancemanagement team was “continuously working on fuel efficiency and energyconsumption optimization.”

The technique of altering aship’s bulbous bow is gaining wider acceptance amongst the internationalshipping community.

Maersk Line hasalready carried out a similar change to ten of its high-speed containerships,while Hyundai Merchant Marine has also adopted the concept.