TMC to supply ALS compressors to NYK’s LNG carriers

24 June 2024 – TMC Compressors (TMC) has been awarded a contract by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to deliver marine air lubrication system (ALS) compressors to four LNG carriers that the Korean shipbuilder is constructing for Japanese shipowner NYK Line.

Each of the four LNG carriers will be equipped with HHI’s proprietary Hi-ALS air lubrication system. TMC will supply its energy-efficient frequency-controlled marine ALS compressors for use in combination with HHI’s air lubrication system.

ALS – or air lubrication system – is a method used to reduce the resistance between the ship’s hull and seawater by using air bubbles. The air bubble distribution across the hull surface reduces the frictional resistance working on the ship’s hull, creating desired energy-saving effects.

“NYK Line will use bubbles to reduce drag, which in turn cuts fuel consumption, operating costs and CO2 emissions. Our compressors will essentially provide the bubbles that enable such cost-efficient sailing operations. Our compressors are of course of the energy-efficient type. We believe this ALS solution is a good fit for NYK Group’s ‘Sail Green, Drive Transformations 2026 – A Passion for Planetary Wellbeing’, which promotes growth strategies with ESG at the core,” says Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development.

Fuel savings

TMC’s frequency-controlled ALS compressors offer fuel savings compared to conventional compressors. As the frequency-controlled technology offers precise control of the compressor speed, the speed of the electrical motor will adjust itself according to what is required to produce the exact air volume necessary to meet the actual compressed air consumption at all time. In turn, lower air consumption requires less speed on the compressor and this directly results in less power consumption.

TMC’s equipment will be manufactured in Scandinavia and shipped to Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea.

“We take great pride in our Scandinavian marine and offshore heritage and believe this is a quality stamp around the world,” adds Hans Petter Tanum.

The four LNG carriers will have a cargo tank capacity of 174,000 cubic metres, a length of 289.9 metres and width of 46.1 metres. They are scheduled for delivery in 2027. Upon completion, the vessels will go on charter with EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg, a major German energy company.

TMC offers compressors for ALS applications that ranges from 50 kW to 400 kW capacity, plus the associated ALS control system. The company is headquartered in Oslo and is the world’s leading supplier of compressed air systems for marine and offshore use.