In April 2021 we announced KCC had concluded key strategic agreements for an energy efficiency retrofit on two of our vessels, which included the installation of an air lubrication system by Silverstream Technologies. Known as the Silverstream® System, the solution releases a carpet of microbubbles that travels the full length of the flat bottom of a vessel, reducing friction between the hull and water.

The installations are slated to be carried out on one CABU II class vessel and one CLEANBU class vessel during their next scheduled dockings during Q2 and Q3 2023.

In this special ‘on the road’ edition of Future Bound, Martin Wattum took the opportunity to visit Silverstream Technologies in London and sit down with CEO Noah Silberschmidt to dig into how Silverstream works and what the installation means for KCC’s vessels due to onboard the solution.

Discussion points include:

• A history of air lubrication technology

• What makes the Silverstream® System the most efficient friction reduction technology on the market

• How best-in-class health and safety standards are followed

• Installing the Silverstream® System on newbuilds vs retrofitting

• Silverstream’s role to play in a future of greener fuels