Unique Norwegian boat propeller saves energy
'We are developing and designing Servopod™, which will be mounted on the hull beneath a boat. It combines the rudder, shaft, gearbox and propeller in a single unit. This reduces weight and saves space, significantly lowering the energy consumption of a high-speed vessel,' explains Eivind Kvandal, Head of Technology and Development at Servogear.
«They have everything they need to continue growing internationally.»
The well-established manufacturing company Servogear has designed and installed propulsion systems for commercial high-speed vessels for more than 50 years. Based on Bømlo, midway between Bergen and Stavanger, the company is now an international manufacturer that has delivered more than 1,800 solutions for a wide range of vessels in Norway and abroad.
The pilot project is a collaboration between Servogear, Oshaug Metall and Norled. If the innovative propeller solution succeeds, it could reduce energy consumption by around 30 per cent compared with several of today’s solutions.
Support from us
We have awarded the project NOK 19 million in funding. 'This project is highly innovative, and the solution could significantly improve the efficiency of zero-emission high-speed passenger vessels,' says Marita Klyve, Senior Adviser at our Vestland office.
'The company not only has extensive experience and market knowledge, but has also developed a solution that can be used on existing high-speed vessels. This opens up significant market potential among vessels already in operation,' says Klyve.
- This project will also make a significant contribution to the transition to zero-emission solutions for high-speed passenger vessels. It is an important step towards achieving the climate targets set for 2030.
«We are confident that we can make this happen, and it is good to have your support along the way.»
Kvandal says they are very pleased with our support, and particularly appreciate that it does not come with unrealistic conditions.
'This kind of pioneering work involves a lot of trial and error, so you cannot always stick to the original schedule. We have been very understanding about that,' says Kvandal.
Inspired by the offshore industry
Fixed pods mounted on hulls are not new in themselves. They are widely used on large, slow-moving offshore vessels, primarily because of their excellent manoeuvrability, ease of maintenance and space-saving design.
'The idea of a pod comes from the offshore industry, and there are already a couple of variants available for smaller, faster vessels. What makes Servopod unique is that it will incorporate all the familiar Servogear features. Combined with our expertise in hull design, this will result in a custom-designed, reversible propeller specifically adapted for high-speed vessels,' says Kvandal.
Unlike a propeller with fixed blades, adjustable propeller blades can continuously optimise the boats' power and propulsion. The new solution will also be much lighter and save considerable space inside the boat.
'Weight is crucial in this industry. Lighter solutions and more efficient power generation from the flow of water beneath the boat deliver significant energy savings. It is also much easier to carry out a quick service while the boat is on land,' he says.
Significant market potential
Kvandal is confident that the market is interested in this. As early as 2020, they carried out a pilot study among their Norwegian customers, which showed strong market interest in the solution.
– The benefits include significant improvements in energy efficiency and manoeuvrability. Another major advantage for ferry operators is that the pod can be serviced before the vessel enters the shipyard. When the vessel is taken ashore, fully refurbished units are ready for installation, which takes just a few hours. This means customers will not encounter any unexpected issues during a shipyard stay. At the same time, the reduced weight and additional space inside the vessels will allow them to carry more passengers, Kvandal explains.
International climate targets are driving demand across the maritime industry for climate-friendly, energy-efficient solutions. Servogear already manufactures for the international market, including passenger vessels in Asia.
'The priority now is to finalise the pod design so that we can produce the prototype and test it on a Norwegian high-speed passenger vessel. Hopefully, it will not be long before one of Norled’s vessels on the west coast of Norway is equipped with our new, innovative propulsion solution,' says Kvandal.
Read more about how Servogear presents its solution to international audiences on Business Norway.