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Silverstream Technologies, a provider of air lubrication technology for the shipping industry, announced on Tuesday that it had signed a contract with an unnamed "major cruise line" to retrofit its proprietary technology, the Silverstream System, on one of its vessels. It is to be retrofitted onto the ship in 2017.

According to Silverstream, its system is the only air lubrication technology available in the market which can be installed to both newbuilds and retrofits, even during a short dry docking. The technology is said to use 66% less energy than other air lubrication systems to power the compressors, which keep cavities filled with air at the required pressure.

In a performance analysis of data taken from Silverstream's original sea trial on the MT Amalienborg, funded by Shell, consistent net efficiency savings in excess of 4% and up to 8% for larger vessels were said to have been achieved.

Silverstream stresses that its technology "does not take up a significant amount of space". The company points out that comparative air lubrication systems for cruise vessels use a greater number of larger compressors and air pipes, requiring significantly more space within a vessel's hull. This, Silverstream says, also increases the complexity of engineering.

"The simplicity of retrofitting the Silverstream System means less downtime for vessels, and also reduces the cost of the technology by as much as 30%, compared to competitor products," Silverstream said in a statement.

Commenting on the contract, Noah Silberschmidt, CEO Silverstream Technologies, remarked: "There is a real demand from the cruise sector for clean technologies that are cost effective, easy to implement and operate, and deliver the efficiency benefits that are claimed. Cruise operators are under increasing pressure to improve their sustainability, as well as reduce fuel consumption and their environmental impact. This new contract represents the confidence that the sector has in the Silverstream System as a viable technology that helps them to meet these challenges, as well as delivering a fast return on investment."

"The contract demonstrates the applicability of the technology for the cruise sector, which in common with all shipping sectors is under pressure to increase operational efficiencies in order to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions in line with current and impending environmental regulations," Silverstream said.

Silberschmidt concluded: "MARPOL Annex VI regulations, which will see the global sulphur limit in fuels reduce to less than 0.5%, will be implemented in 2020, and will have a significant effect on fuel bills for cruise operators, who also transit the 0.1% Emission Control Areas. Leveraging any solution that can reduce their fuel consumption is critical to maintaining profitability and continuity. Clean technology is one of the best ways to deliver this, and we are delighted that the hard work and investment that has gone into developing the Silverstream System as one of the industry's most viable and proven solutions is coming to fruition."