Advanced vessel design

The VLJ is said to be an innovative propulsor unit that provides considerable advantages to the operator over both conventional propellers and waterjets. Voith reported it had undertaken extensive numerical modelling and model testing of the propulsor and this will be the first application on board a vessel.  The VLJ is an advanced ducted propeller with a stator positioned in the duct aft of the propeller, in a similar arrangement to that of a waterjet.  For the same installed power, the VLJ is expected to provide a bollard pull approximately 50% higher than that of a waterjet and in excess of 30% higher than conventional propellers.

Voith said it is now undertaking extensive model tests in conjunction with BMT to optimise the VLJ design and to validate performance. The production of the first VLJ900 units is underway and construction of the vessel will start shortly at Holyhead Marine, for completion scheduled for early next year.