LJMU-tested technology to 'debut' on TUI Cruise ship
Armada Technologies, a partner of LJMU’s Global Centre for Maritime Innovation, has signed an agreement with TUI Cruises to install revolutionary technology to reduce hull resistance and improve fuel efficiency.
The Passive Air Lubrication System (PALS) will operate on the cruise ship Mein Schiff 6, a 99,000 tonne, 15-deck ship with capacity for 2,534 passengers.
The PALS system has been extensively tested with LJMU engineers and reduces drag on ships by up to 38.8%* significantly cutting fuel consumption.
Cutting emissions and pollution is one of the maritime industry’s most pressing priorities as maritime transport accounts for about 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions - the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide.
National Clean Maritime Research Hub
TUI Cruises will utilise Armada’s second-generation PALS, which functions without the need for air compressors. Using the vessel’s forward motion and surrounding water flow, PALS generates a fine air–water mixture that reduces hull resistance, and minimises auxiliary power use.
Testing with LJMU was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for Transport through the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub.
The independent testing at the university is the latest data in a wider body of evidence that demonstrate the performance of Armada’s technology. This includes the recent successful commercial deployment of PALS on the M/V Kool Husky, a 160,000 cubic meter tanker owned by CoolCo, which is currently gathering real-world performance data at sea.
This investigation focused on its ability to inject water to modify near-wall conditions. Water lubrication has particular potential for lubricating the vertical sides of a vessel, where the persistence of air-based approaches is reduced by buoyancy.
The system will be installed by Q1 2027 when the vessel is expected to dry dock in Singapore. Through the deal, Armada will help TUI Cruises advance its decarbonisation goals and improve operational efficiency.
Real-world data
Alex Routledge, CEO of Armada Technologies, said: “Our mission is to lead the charge in reducing the impact of maritime operations. Our work with LJMU provides the scientific validation that our water injection capability is a robust solution for the entire hull, including vertical sides.
“When combined with the real-world data we are currently gathering from the Kool Husky, we are building a complete picture of a second-generation air lubrication system that delivers true environmental benefits without the power drain of compressors.”
We’re proud to be partnering with TUI Cruises, one of the industry’s most forward-thinking operators, to deliver tangible efficiency and sustainability gains. This agreement reflects growing confidence in PALS and its proven ability to deliver real performance improvements at sea.”
Professor Eddie Blanco-Davis at LJMU’s Global Centre for Maritime Innovation, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Armada, a local Liverpool firm, on vital efficiency and fuel-consumption technologies. The finding that drag reduction can be maintained with varying plate orientation suggests that this technology can potentially deliver notable energy savings across non-idealised scenarios and varying conditions.”
