Wed, 27 October, 2021
The GATERS Project will be represented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) exhibition.
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 by the GATERS Project team had been trialled on new build ships, but now it is being adapted so it can be retrofitted to existing vessels. Offering 14% fuel savings in normal weather and up to 30% in rougher conditions, the system will help to bring existing vessels in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s efforts to reduce emissions.
The u-shaped rudder curves over the ship’s propeller rather than being situated behind it as with traditional rudders. The rudder system not only improves steering but also helps generate extra thrust and reduces underwater noise emissions that can disturb marine wildlife.
It is hoped that a 90-metre coastal cargo ship, called 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.