MALS(Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System) - green ship technology for energy saving by air carpet

Accelerating the development of innovative technologies to reduce CO2 emissions from vessels is essential to both cope with rising fuel costs and to improve the world environment. This can be achieved through the development of various CO2 abatement technologies, such as low-friction coatings, hybrid contra-rotating propulsion systems, solar power, and liquefied natural gas-fueled plants. We focus on the proprietary Mitsubishi Air-Lubrication System (MALS), which reduces frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater using air bubbles along the bottom of the vessel.
MALS was installed on two module carriers in 2010 and is the world's first application of an air-blower air-lubrication system in ocean-going vessels and achieves 13% reduction in CO2 emissions. Based on our study of the principal theory, technical challenges, and practical engineering of MALS both in terms of efficiency and commercially viability, the technology is now expanded to other ship types such as bulk carrier, ferry, cruise ships, and so on.
MHI Website
www.mhi.co.jp/e...