Saturday, May 2, 2009

Navy Stern Flap Installations for Fuel Savings

The U.S. Navy began installing stern flaps in April on amphibious ships in an effort make ships more fuel efficient and save up to $450,000 in fuel costs per ship annually.

USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the first dock landing ship to receive stern flaps, began the installation process mid-April during a scheduled maintenance availability in Norfolk, Va. The ship is expected to head back to sea in late November.” A stern flap, located on the aft end of a ship, makes the ship more hydrodynamic, reducing drag and the energy required to propel them through the water," said Petter Kristiansen, Fleet Readiness Research and Development Program (FRR&DP) program manager. "Previous installations on other Navy ships generated annual fuel savings of $365,000 to $450,000 per ship.
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