- JP
- EN
MOL Invests in 13 Mari, Developer of Ripple-shaped 'Flowsmart' Elements
- Moving to Create New GHG Reduction Solutions -
February 19, 2025
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that I it has invested in 13 Mari Ltd. (Representative: Chief Executive Officer Krassimir Fotev, Headquarters: U.S. (Note 1)), a developer of ripple-shaped "Flowsmart" elements (Note 2) that are retrofitted to ships' hulls, with the goal of developing and providing new solutions for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction.
From left: MOL Dry Bulk Business Strategy Division General Manager Shinichi Asahina; 13 Mari Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Gaston Petrocelli; MOL Deputy Vice President Hirofumi Kamata; and 13 Mari Founder and Chief Executive Officer Krassimir Fotev
The ripple-shaped Flowsmart element developed by 13 Mari uses technology, which has been incorporated into the shape of aircraft wings and as aero parts for automobiles, and it is based on the concept of controlling the flow of water near the hull to reduce drag and bring out the original performance of the vessel. The company aims to improve the fuel efficiency of vessels and achieve stable navigation.
The ripple-shaped Flowsmart elements are expected to reduce GHG and fuel consumption by 3%-7% on vessels retrofitted with 10 to 20 of the elements, and even more when combined with currently available energy-saving devices such as wind propulsion systems and various types of fins.
In addition, because all kinds of ships, both newbuildings and in-service vessels, can be retrofitted with these elements, and retrofitting does not require a large capital investment or retrofitting work, they can be used in various fields of the shipping industry, such as dry bulk, energy, and product transport, representing an environmental solution that can be taken now. They may prove especially effective in the small and medium-sized ship sector, where it has been difficult to introduce wind propulsion systems due to the limited device and equipment layout space on board, and in the dry bulk field, where the introduction of next-generation fuels has been limited due to restrictions on the design and development of new ship types and ports of call. MOL seeks to promote GHG emission reductions and build momentum in the entire maritime industry for the introduction of new technologies in these fields, by playing a role in the development and introduction of new technologies as a first mover.
MOL has established the "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2" and set the goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, with "further introduction of energy-saving technologies" as a key strategy to achieve the target. By investing in 13 Mari and supporting its technology development, MOL will promote this key strategy and contribute not only to the reduction of GHG emissions from the group companies, but also to the reduction and decarbonization of society as a whole.
(Note 1) [Outline of 13 Mari]
| Company name | 13 Mari Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Representative | Krassimir Fotev |
| Location | U.S. |
| Business | U.S., Singapore, U.K., and Bulgaria-based start-up that develops and designs ripple-shaped Flowsmart elements to be retrofitted on vessels. The company plans to retrofit about a dozen vessels with the elements by 2026 for shipping companies and shipowners around the world. |
| Website | https://13mari.com/ |
(Note 2) "Ripple-shaped Flowsmart elements": A device to improve propulsion efficiency by preventing the generation of larger vortices, which cause increased drag, by attaching element protrusions to a vessel and forcibly generating small vortices in the surrounding water flow.
Due to the turbulence of the water flow around the hull and the underdevelopment of effective simulation technology, it has been difficult to benefit from the drag reduction effect of installing protrusions on vessels and to measure the effect of such protrusions. On the other hand, 13 Mari hypothesized that based on the latest research theories of in the field of fluid mechanics, even on large vessels, the shape, size, degree of interference, and direction of diffusion of vortices can be controlled depending on the location of the energy-saving Ripple-shaped Flowsmart elements, and resistance will be reduced. The company is conducting research and development to elucidate its principle and to put it to practical use.
MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Environment -Conservation for Marine and global environment-" and "Innovation -Innovation for development in marine technology-."
