Smart Air selected for KNOT shuttle tanker

Photo: COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan).

Chinese shipbuilder COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) has contracted Oslo-headquartered TMC Compressors to supply what TMC says is “probably the global maritime market’s most energy efficient marine compressed air system,” featuring its Smart Air compressors.

The system will be installed in a 154,000 dwt DP2 Suezmaxshuttle tanker that is being built for Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT) and TMC’s scope of supply includes a complete marine compressed air system that consists of Smart Air compressors that can offer up to 40% energy savings compared to conventional compressors. The system will consist of control and service air compressors.

TMC’s Smart Air compressors are based on a frequency-controlled technology that offers precise control of the compressor speed. Simply explained: 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 times.

“Lower air consumption requires less speed on the compressor. This directly results in less power consumption which translates to lower operating expenditure and less emissions to air,” says Hans-Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development.

Earlier this year, TMC announced that it had won a contract to deliver a marine compressed air system to three other shuttle tankers that COSCO Zhoushan is constructing for KNOT.

“To be able to collaborate with COSCO Zhousan for another shuttle tanker project is something we are proud of,” adds Tanum.

Earlier this year, TMC announced that it had won a contract to deliver a marine compressed air system to three other shuttle tankers that COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) is constructing for KNOT.

“To be able to collaborate with COSCO Zhousan for another shuttle tanker project is something we are proud of,” adds Tanum.