The CMA CGM Group will retrofit 10 of its vessels’ bulbous bows in order to continue improving its fleet’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental footprint.
The bulbous bows exchanges that are performed within a week in repair yards’ drydocks reduce significantly the ship’s fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions.
Bulbous bows are the underwater part of the bow. Because of their influence on the vessel’s wave resistance, their design has a major impact on the vessel hydrodynamic efficiency.
They were initially designed for 24 knots sailing speed. Following the implementation of the slow steaming, the Group’s vessels now sail at speeds between 16 to 18 knots. Bulbous bows have therefore been redesigned.
The bulbous bows’ new design was shaped in cooperation with Hydrocéan, a French engineering company specialized in hydrodynamics.
Those 10 vessels will be added to the list of 15 vessels whose bulbous bows have been modified in 2013 and 2014. All vessels that have entered the CMA CGM fleet in 2014 are sailing with optimized bulbous bows.
The CMA CGM Group’s objective is 50% CO2/TEU-km reduction between 2005 and 2015.
Press Release