Minke Marine AL. LLC was established in 2023. It is a partnership formed by colleagues each with decades of experience in both the marine and water treatment industries. Between them working with tanker installed inert gas systems from the 1970’s, ballast water treatment systems from the beginning (2004) and many water treatment, solids treatment and vapor control projects. This experience has given the partners in-depth knowledge about the fundamentals of water and gas control and handling, as well as decades of integrating hardware systems into a wide array of vessel types, 5,000 to 330,000 DWT. It is well understood; hardware systems intended to work with a vessel are not bolt on, they are always bolt in.

Minke Marine? During a work trip on a ship at anchor, founding partner Mr. Kevin McPherson saw the dense spiraling clouds of bubbles created by feeding Minke whales. Reminiscent of the dense bubbles made by the as yet nameless Air Lubrication system he was developing, a name was selected.

Minke Marine Air Lubrication System Updates:

March 2024.

The Minke Marine ALS receives Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV

DNV undertook a comprehensive review of the system, its installation and operation. The resulting AiP is inclusive of all vessels giving owners and managers confidence installation of the robust,  energy efficient, compressorless Air Lubrication system is safe and compatible with the normal operation of a commercial vessel. The system comes with a very low installation burden resulting in a fractional capital cost; being compressorless its operational cost and efficiency is also better than contemporary ALS.

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2024 IN REVIEW

Minke Marine A.L. LLC has made excellent progress since incorporating in late 2023 – though the founders have been working on the system since 2010. We are sharing a brief round-up of our 2024 highlights. You will see it has been a busy year with an even busier and more exciting 2025 in prospect!

Minke Marine Air Lubrication System (MMALS)- Overview
The MMALS is unique in its approach to Air Lubrication. It does not use compressors or blowers and only requires two hull penetrations. The result is a very low impact installation at a small fraction of the CAP EX and OP EX of a contemporary ALS. Small scale testing (not model or tow tank testing) gave double digit returns, so though low impact and inexpensive the indication is of comparable performance to contemporary ALS. A customer commissioned pre-AiP assessment completed by DNV concluded the MMALS will bring net gains to a vessel. A full-scale installation is in process.

Approval in Principle – DNV April 2024
The initial DNV feasibility assessment was immediately followed by a formal application to DNV for Approval in Principle. DNV completed the thorough review, generally, and with a specific installation in mind. AiP was issued in April. An achievement for Minke and an important recognition/verification for this elegant, new Air Lubrication System.

Partner with Experience – 2024
The MM ALS is a very attractive concept, but it takes more than a concept. The best way to bring some engineering, fabrication and installation capability on board was to partner with a company known to MM. Aitken Marine International brings established experience and resources to our innovative new entry into the ALS market. With 35 years in the industry AMI provides much needed engineering/installation and project execution know how to Minke – we are using it already.

First Project Awarded – July 2024
After the feasibility study and subsequent AiP, MM entered serious discussion with a very proactive owner to complete a full-scale installation aboard a 50,000 DWT dry cargo vessel. It is hard to overstate the importance of this project, it provides a clear indication of the simple, robust, effective fundamentals of the system. The MMALS simply and inexpensively improves CII ratings and saves fuel every sailing day. Reducing costs and emissions, with a very short ROI.

3-D Scan Engineering and Approval – August-December 2024
The project vessel was surveyed and 3-D scanned. Approval of detailed drawings is close to complete. Fabrication of several key components is complete, with the balance to come in early 2025 – installation Q1 2025.

Additional Opportunities and Data
Survey and 3-D Scanning crews have been sent to different vessels, sizing up to Suezmax and Newcastlemax. Subsequent engineering drawings and installation renderings being reviewed with owners and different Classification Societies. We’ve also completed very positive ROI and NPV case studies for several installation models and trading patterns.

More IP – December 2024
Earlier in 2024 a provisional patent application was finalized and submitted for final examination. It was exciting to receive the patent, doubling the number of patents attributed to our ALS.