In the shipping industry, the demand for sustainability and efficiency improvements is on the rise, particularly in fuel savings. Damen Marine Components offers an extensive range of Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), which not only significantly reduce fuel consumption, but also contribute to the shipping industry’s sustainability goals.

Curious about what Damen Marine Components’ Energy Saving Devices can do for you? Please contact our sales team.

From design to in-house manufacturing

Why choose our energy saving systems?

DMC offers innovative solutions for manoeuvring systems that improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. By optimising thrust, control and water flow, our products enhance performance, safety and deliver significant fuel savings.

DMC energy-saving systems improve navigational efficiency and reduce costs. Our innovative, high-tech solutions are interconnectable, forming an integrated package that reduces resistance and fuel consumption. Whatever your needs, DMC provides tailored solutions.

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ART™ is a unique leading edge that is adapted to match the angles of the propeller to ensure smooth water flow. This technology has been developed to reduce resistance and cavitation. The profile of each ART™ is specifically modified to counter the rotation effects of the propeller slipstream. It is an optional feature that can be applied to all rudders.

ART™ is available in two versions: the S- and Z-shape. The S-shape has a more detailed design that reduces the risk of cavitation even more than the Z-shape. Nevertheless, the cavitation risk is significantly reduced with both versions in comparison to a conventional leading edge. Increased operational profile and extended product lifetime are the result when ART™ is applied to a rudder.

Asymmetric Rudder Technology

The Flex Tunnel is a retractable tunnel which can be deployed when necessary. 
The introduction of the Flex Tunnel goes back to 2010, when Damen Marine Components developed the concept together with research institute DST Duisburg. The retractable tunnel was extensively tested at different water depths and speeds in various configurations, and the resistance reduction when the tunnel is deployed was also measured. The result was one clear conclusion; the Flex Tunnel provides considerably higher operational efficiency for the entire vessel.

To install a Flex Tunnel, the entire hull design has to be adapted. This innovation is therefore not suited to existing vessels.

Flex Tunnel

The rotor manoeuvring system (RMS) has been specifically developed to increase safety during navigation. It offers ships increased steering power in the bow and significantly improves manoeuvrability by providing thrust to overcome lateral wind forces.

The operation of the RMS is based on the Magnus effect, whereby a lift force is generated by a submerged rotating composite tube that greatly improves the course stability of an unloaded ship. The RMS functions at a sailing speed of 6 km/h or more. By using this manoeuvring system a ship’s crew can reduce steering movements, resulting in reduced resistance and fuel savings.

Rotor Manoeuvring System

The purpose of the Hydro Spoiler is to optimise water flow towards the rudder. A spoiler is placed behind the propeller, exactly on the centreline.

The curved blades catch the outflowing water from the propeller and bend it from a swirling to a straight outgoing flow towards the rudder, making the outflow of the propeller water more even. Smooth water flow towards the rudder results in reduced noise and vibration levels. The Hydro Spoiler improves the propulsion efficiency and speed performance of a vessel, and enhances the ship’s course-keeping capabilities. Continuous research and customer feedback since the introduction of the Hydro Spoiler in 1998 have proved that these refinements increase vessel efficiency up to 5%.

Hydro Spoiler

Damen Air Cavity System© (DACS) is a patented Air Lubrication System (ALS). By generating cushions of air between the hull and the water underneath the flat bottom area, a significant reduction of the resistance can be achieved. This leads to a reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. DACS can achieve a fuel reduction of up to 15% and is verified by RINA and Lloyd's Register.
Damen Air Cavity System© at similar flow rates, an air cavity reduces the friction significantly more than the 1st generation bubble generating systems, as shown in the graph. The system aims to reduce resistance in the water, particularly for ships with a low Froude number. Such vessels are known to encounter the greatest resistance in the water. By reducing this, DACS achieves both lower both emissions and fuel consumption.

Damen Air Cavity System (DACS)

The Silent Bulb is an energy saving device designed to improve the propeller wake field. It is mounted on the rudder and positioned on the centreline of the propeller. This optional feature improves the water flow that comes from the propeller and increases thrust at higher loads.

The Silent Bulb is a fuel-saving device that has been designed to reduce the risk of cavitation on the rudder by reducing unavoidable flow losses from the propeller. This has the added benefit of extending the lifetime of the rudder. The Silent Bulb also increases the maximum propeller thrust with the propeller efficiency significantly increased.

An optional feature of the Silent Bulb is the “Rudder Fins”. This energy saving device is mounted on the bulb to minimise the flow losses of the propeller.

Silent Bulb

The Optima DUCT is a pre-swirl Energy Saving Device (ESD) designed to improve propeller performance and reduce fuel consumption. Mounted in front of the propeller, the Optima DUCT optimises the flow of the water before it reaches the blades of the propeller. This leads to smoother propulsion, lower energy losses, and measurable fuel savings.

Every vessel’s propeller operates in a non-uniform wake flow – water moves unevenly across the propeller disc. DMC’s Optima DUCT corrects this imbalance by redirecting the flow ahead of the propeller, ensuring that each blade operates under more uniform conditions.
This reduces rotational losses and increases thrust, allowing vessels to achieve the same speed with up to 6% less energy.

Optima DUCT

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