RINA Mermaid Concept Boosts Ship Efficiency | Mariner News

RINA has unveiled its “Mermaid” concept, a new ship propulsion system designed to enable main engines to generate onboard power, promising significant annual fuel savings and reduced emissions.

The innovation aims to diminish reliance on auxiliary engines and enhance operational efficiency across various vessel types. The Mermaid concept integrates a shaft generator, propeller shaft clutch, and battery storage with a vessel’s two-stroke main engine.

This configuration allows the main engine to continue running in port, even with the propeller disconnected, to supply electricity directly or charge onboard batteries. These batteries can then power the vessel when the main engine is shut down.

RINA’s analysis indicates the system could save over 1,000 metric tons of fuel annually in certain applications, leading to lower operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint. Beyond port operations, the concept also optimizes propulsion during slow steaming by matching engine power more precisely with actual operating conditions, contributing to overall plant efficiency.

This approach shifts the operational paradigm by making better use of the main engine’s capabilities, potentially reducing the running hours and maintenance demands on auxiliary engines. Furthermore, the Mermaid system is designed to be fuel agnostic, offering long-term flexibility and future-proofing for shipowners as the industry navigates evolving fuel landscapes, applicable to tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships.

Following feedback from shipowners and shipyards, RINA is now developing the Mermaid concept into a detailed design.