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UK firm Stone Marine Propulsion reports continued success and fuel cost benefits for its New Profile Type (NPT) propeller.

The NPT propeller, originating from Japan, incorporates cavitation friendly section profiles to reduce the blade surface area and increase propeller efficiency. Additional benefits include reduced propeller weight and inertia, which can lead to savings further up the propulsion train.

Recent notable contracts for the Stone Marine NPT propeller include DS Norden’s newbuildings at the Chinese yards Guangzhou Longxue and Jiangmen Nanyang. Overall fuel consumption in these vessels is expected to be reduced by approximately 11 percent as a result of the owner’s revision of the main engine specification and the adoption of NPT technology.

Stone Marine Propulsion is also working with DS Norden on the upgrading of existing units within their fleet.

A further more long standing reference is Guangzhou Shipbuilding International’s continuing supply of a series of 39k tankers to A.P. Moller, again fitted with NPT propellers.

The NPT propeller has also been endorsed by Danish Naval Architects Grontmij Carl Bro, who now specify it as standard for their innovative Seahorse class of 35k bulk carriers.