Quantitative assessment of propeller and silicone hull coating retrofits in LNG carriers using operational performance data
Master Thesis
Συγγραφέας
Chougiouris, Nikolaos E.
Asvestis, Dimitrios V.
Χουγιούρης, Νικόλαος
Ασβέστης, Δημήτριος
Ημερομηνία
2026-08Επιβλέπων
Pariotis, EfthimiosΠαριώτης, Ευθύμιος
Προβολή/ Άνοιγμα
Λέξεις κλειδιά
LNG carrier retrofit performance ; ISO 19030 ; Silicone fouling-release coating ; Propeller boss cap fins ; Retrofit economic evaluationΠερίληψη
This thesis quantitatively assesses two energy efficiency retrofits fitted to two LNG carriers, LSA and PL: a silicone fouling-release coating and Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF). Using ISO 19030 based comparison of pre- and post-retrofit data, each retrofit's effect on required power is measured across speed and loading condition, then converted into fuel-cost savings and investment metrics.
Both retrofits show a measurable, positive improvement. The silicone coating reduces required power by 0.54% to 8.01%, larger in Ballast than Laden and at low speed than high speed. PBCF reduces required power by 10.42% (Laden) and -2.43% (Ballast) at real average speed, a small Ballast loss offset by Laden's larger gain, on a thinner data sample. Both retrofits recover their cost well within their economic life: the silicone coating returns an NPV of approximately EUR421,000, based on measured fuel consumption rather than power reduction (IRR 34.6%, payback 2.24 years), and PBCF returns an NPV of approximately EUR2.1 million (IRR over 490%, payback 74 days), reflecting its low capital cost.
Neither retrofit's benefit is fixed: both vary meaningfully with loading condition and speed, showing that evaluating retrofits against a vessel's real operating profile gives a more defensible economic case than a single-point estimate.


