New Energy-saving Windshield Installed on Containership MOL MARVEL for Demonstration Test
- Cuts Wind Resistance, Saves Fuel, and Reduces CO₂ Emissions -

September 03, 2015

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) today announced that it has started demonstration tests of a new windshield for containerships, which has the potential to reduce wind resistance, save fuel, and reduce CO₂ emissions. MOL jointly developed the device with MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. (President: Shugo Aoto; Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), Ouchi Ocean Consultant, Inc. (President: Kazuyuki Ouchi, Ph. D.; Headquarters: Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture), Akishima Laboratory (Mitsui Zosen) Inc. (President: Katsuyoshi Nishimura; Headquarters: Akishima-City, Tokyo), and the University of Tokyo (President: Makoto Gonokami, Ph.D.; Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo). The project was backed by the "Joint R&D for Industry Program", in which Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK; Chairman and President, Representative Director: Noboru Ueda; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) promotes wide-ranging R&D activities in cooperation with industry, government and academia.

The new windshield was installed on the bow of the MOL-operated containership MOL MARVEL, and a demonstration test of its effectiveness in reducing CO₂ emissions is under way.

With today's larger containerships, the height of the containers loaded on their decks has increased, subjecting the vessels to greater wind resistance. MOL recognized the need to address this issue in a cost-effective way. Development of the new device began with an examination of the bow's aerodynamic form through wind tunnel testing. This led to the adoption of a horseshoe-shaped design, which encloses the front line of the stacked containers to maximize the wind resistance-reducing effect while minimizing the weight of the main unit. The new windshield has enough design strength to meet the ClassNK rules concerning wave impact pressure. In addition, by obliquely setting the containers placed along the sides of the vessel behind the windshield, the sides of the vessel will be more streamlined, further reducing wind resistance.

With those measures, MOL expects an annual average reduction of 2% in CO₂ emissions, assuming the device is mounted on a 6,700 TEU containership plying the North Pacific Ocean route at speed of 17 knots. The new windshield is also expected to protect ships from green water on the bow deck when sailing in bad weather.

To realize the goal of "solid growth through innovative changes" stated in the midterm management plan STEER FOR 2020, the MOL Group has worked to develop next-generation vessel concepts to reduce environmental impact through the Senpaku ISHIN project. The MOL Group's ongoing efforts to develop and refine various environmental technologies contribute to environmental protection by reducing CO₂ emissions from vessels.