Maritime clean technology company Silverstream Technologies has successfully completed another retrofit of its air lubrication technology, the Silverstream System, on a large LNG carrier (LNGC) at Seatrium’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore.
The retrofit on a 174,000m3 LNGC owned by an oil major, was completed in 30 days, reinforcing the role that Silverstream’s technology can play as a near-term decarbonisation solution for existing ships. It is the 11th retrofit of the Silverstream System that the company has delivered worldwide.
Seatrium is a cooperation partner of Silverstream, which helped to facilitate a smooth retrofit process. The yard was formed after the merger of Sembcorp Marine and Keppel Offshore & Marine in 2023.
The Silverstream System releases a carpet of air to reduce the frictional resistance between the hull and the water, reducing average net fuel consumption and GHG emissions by 5-10%. In the case of LNGCs, these savings result in increased delivered volumes. With regulations such as EEXI and CII tightening decarbonisation targets, clean technology retrofits onboard LNGCs of the sort achieved by Silverstream and Seatrium are expected to become increasingly relevant for the segment. Demand for LNG shipping capacity is restricting fleet renewal opportunities and minimising time in drydock, further reinforcing the case for improving the energy efficiency of the existing LNG fleet.
Silverstream claims a proven track record of newbuild and retrofit installations and has delivered each of its 69 in-operation installations on time. By completing the retrofit within 30 days, Silverstream minimises any impact on a vessel’s profitability. Silverstream is now receiving repeat orders within framework agreements across LNG and other segments based on the technology’s independently verified performance and Silverstream’s track record of retrofit installations.
Noah Silberschmidt, Founder and CEO, Silverstream Technologies, said: “This successful retrofit at Seatrium of our technology onboard another LNG carrier is yet further proof of our deep experience in the LNG segment. The market conditions and operational factors unique to LNGCs make them perfectly suited to our air lubrication technology, and we will continue to work with energy majors and our yard partners to ensure smooth installations onboard any vessel that chooses us as an efficiency-boosting option.”
Alvin Gan, EVP Repairs and Upgrades, Seatrium, said: “As the premier yard in LNGC repairs, upgrades and conversions, Seatrium is committed to working with our customers and partners to provide turnkey, one-stop solutions in energy efficiency retrofits for LNG carriers. Our collaboration with Silverstream Technologies is successfully delivering another retrofit of the air lubrication technology and further solidifies our position in the industry. By providing comprehensive engineering services through excellent project execution, we aim to continue to lead and play a key role in assisting our customers to achieve their energy efficiency targets.”
The vessel retrofitted at Seatrium will now move into post-drydock sea trials for the Silverstream System. Silverstream ssays it supports customers throughout the lifecycle of the system, including crew training during the commissioning phase and lifecycle agreements for servicing, maintenance and upgrades.
Image: A 174,000m3 LNG tanker has been retrofitted with the Silverstream system by Seatrium in Singapore (source: Silverstream/Blue Comms)
