A brand-new ship has been built with ‘green’ steel, wind-assisted propulsion and a highly efficient engine configured for low emission MGO (Marine Gas Oil)

Owners looking to commission a yacht with plenty of green credentials can take a leaf out of Mitsui O.S.K Lines Ltd. This major shipping company has just taken delivery of one of the most environmentally friendly new cargo vessels to date, mainly by specifying more sustainable methods of construction and propulsion.

The 17,611 dwt Prima Verde is powered by an MGO unit from the Japan Engine Corporation, with twin aerofoils from Econowind to help reduce fuel bills by around

The 17,611 dwt Prima Verde is powered by an MGO unit from the Japan Engine Corporation, with twin aerofoils from Econowind to help reduce fuel bills by around

The hull of the 426ft (130m) Prima Verde was built using JGreeX, a ‘green’ steel from the JFE Steel Corporation. The company aims to produce steel in a way that greatly reduces the CO2 emissions, mainly by using a methodology called ‘mass balance.’ Although based on a rather complex system of ‘pooling’ the reductions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) from several projects, the result is a steel that is fully certified. This certificate will help a ship owner achieve its Scope 3 emissions target, part of a tightening set of rules impacting the sector.

The next addition has been the fitting of a VentoFoil wind propulsion system from the Netherlands-based company Econowind. Of interest to superyacht owners is that these lightweight aluminium wings can be stowed into the deck or superstructure when not needed, or when passing under low bridges. They could also be styled to compliment the overall look of the vessel. An electric fan sucks air across the foil to increase lift by a factor of five, so the foils are still effective in light winds. Early tests suggest an average saving of 10% in fuel, with up to 30% on particularly windy passages. The system can be manually operated, giving mariners a chance to ‘sail’ their motoryacht with a bit of skill, or left to run automatically. Anemometers at the top each wing indicate the best angle of attack for the apparent wind direction.

The Ventofoil system can be installed anywhere on deck, but a popular location is up in the bow. The foils fold flat for passing under low bridges and turn automatically to harvest the most favourable wind.

The Ventofoil system can be installed anywhere on deck, but a popular location is up in the bow. The foils fold flat for passing under low bridges and turn automatically to harvest the most favourable wind.

The final aspect of sustainability has been the marine gas oil (MGO) engine. The fuel is largely processed from renewable sources, such as waste from the food industry, and can be used either in place of fossil fuels or as a mix with conventional marine fuel. By using an engine specifically configured to use this type of fuel, emissions can be cut by up to 70%.

Painted a distinctive bright green, the Prima Verde (meaning ‘first green’ in Italian) is part of the ship owner’s strategy to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2030. What will prove very helpful to the leisure yacht industry is how these new technologies perform when under constant use in various sea states, and in different parts of the world.

Topics