Becker Mewis Duct for Odfjell

Odfjell manages 55 tankers and is highly motivated to find ways of saving fuel and optimising its fleet. Becker Marine Systems is proud to be chosen to join their optimisation program with the Becker Mewis Duct to enhance the propulsion efficiency of the Odfjell fleet.
Odfjell and Becker agreed to start with the 37,500 dwt and 40,000 dwt chemical tankers as pilot projects to evaluate the performance of the Becker Mewis Duct. Marintek in Trondheim was contacted to carry out extensive model tests for both ship series. The tests were performed at different draughts and ship speeds to analyse the overall performance of the Becker Mewis Duct.
Upon concluding the final tests, the Norwegian model basin determined power savings of 6-7% at design condition. All in all the tests showed impressive reductions of required shaft line power in a wide range of ship speeds and draught conditions.
Becker’s design team made sure that the Becker Mewis Duct could be installed in a short time without impact the existing ship aft steel construction and without dismantling the propeller.
The first unit was fitted onboard the 37,500 dwt chemical tanker «Bow Flora» in March 2011 during regular dry-docking. The second Becker Mewis Duct for Odfjell will follow during the dry-docking of the 40,000 dwt chemical tanker «Bow Sea» this spring – further retrofits will follow soon.