Wed, 27 October, 2021
TWI will be represented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) exhibition as participants in the GATERS Project.
COP26 will bring together global leaders between 31 October and 12 November in order to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Part of this conference will include the showcasing of ideas to help reach these goals, including the GATERS Project (GATE Rudder System as a Retrofit for the Next Generation Propulsion and Steering of Ships), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on ships through the fitting of a gate rudder system.
The gate rudder system being developed further by the GATERS Project team had been trialled on new build ships, but now it is being adapted to be retrofitted to existing vessels. Offering 14% fuel savings in calm weather and up to 30% in rougher conditions in early trials and performance monitoring, respectively, the system will help to bring existing vessels in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s efforts to reduce emissions.
The u-shaped split gate rudder blades curve over the ship’s propeller rather than being situated behind it as with conventional rudders. This rudder system not only improves steering but also helps generate extra thrust from the blades and reduces underwater noise emissions that can disturb marine wildlife.
It is envisaged that a 90-metre coastal cargo ship called MV Erge will set sail as the first retrofitted ship in 2022. The Erge will be continuously monitored to determine how much fuel and greenhouse gas emissions are being saved.
TWI is working as one of 18 expert project partners collaborating on this project from nine different nations. You can find out more about the GATERS Project, here.
The project has an official sub-license agreement with Wartsila Netherlands BV to utilise the Gate Rudder Patent (EP 3103715) at specific retrofit projects of vessel sizes below 15000 DWT.
GATERS Innovation Action Project is sponsored by the European Commission’s H2020 Programme (ID: 860337) with aims and objectives independent of Wartsila Netherlands BV.