Smart motor control · Seawater pump & ER fan VFD retrofit

Variable speed. Measurable savings.

Variable-frequency drives that run seawater cooling pumps and engine-room ventilation fans at the speed the ship actually needs, less electrical load, less fuel, longer machinery life.

20–50%pump & fan power at partial load
Shortpayback period
Pump & fan VFD upgrade

A retrofit that matches motor speed to demand.

The VFD Energy Saving System replaces constant-speed operation of the seawater cooling pumps and the engine-room (ER) ventilation fans with intelligent frequency control. Vessels gain measurable fuel savings, a lower electrical load and a longer machinery life, while improving CII performance and overall energy efficiency.

Applicable to bulk carriers, tankers, container vessels, LNG carriers and other ocean-going ships.

Marine VFD cabinets with the pump and fan control display
Why it saves

From constant speed to actual demand.

Conventional seawater pumps and ER fans run at full speed whatever the engine load, sea water or engine-room temperature. The VFD system changes that.

The challenge

Constant-speed pumps and fans, regardless of engine load or ambient temperature, result in:

  • Excess electrical usage
  • Unnecessary generator loading
  • Increased fuel oil consumption
  • Accelerated pump and fan wear
  • Higher emissions

The solution

The VFD system regulates pump and fan speed based on:

  • Main engine load
  • Sea water temperature
  • Engine-room temperature
  • Cooling system pressure feedback
  • Operational mode

By matching pump and fan performance to actual demand, the system cuts excess power consumption while keeping cooling and engine-room ventilation safe and stable.

Diagram of the seawater cooling system with VFD-controlled pumps
Compliance contribution

Savings that count towards your ratings.

The VFD upgrade contributes to:

EEXI compliance marginCII improvementEU ETS exposure reductionFuelEU Maritime preparationIMO DCS / EU MRV

Up to 50%

reduced pump and fan load

Smart pumps & fans

What you get on board.

Typical fuel savings depend on vessel type and trading profile; the payback is short, depending on vessel profile and fuel price.

Key benefits

  • Reduction of auxiliary power consumption
  • Lower fuel oil consumption
  • Improved CII rating
  • Reduced generator running hours
  • Extended pump, fan and motor lifetime
  • Reduced maintenance costs
  • Short return on investment

Technical features

  • Frequency inverter cabinet (marine type)
  • Integrated control logic for pumps and ER fans
  • Automatic and manual operation modes
  • Remote monitoring capability
  • Protection and alarm system
  • Compatible with the existing cooling and ventilation systems
  • Minimal structural modification; optional link to your performance monitoring platform
Turn-key package

One partner, from study to verified savings.

The retrofit can be done during drydock or a scheduled port stay.

01

Pre-installation engineering study

02

Electrical load analysis

03

Class approval documentation

04

Equipment supply

05

Installation supervision

06

Commissioning

07

Post-installation performance verification

More energy solutions
Hydrodynamic optimisation

Up to 20% energy saving effect

Main engine power recovery

~12% EEXI improvement

Zero-emission berthing

Up to 8 MW

What's next

Let’s evaluate your fleet.

We are happy to receive your inquiries about seawater pump and ER fan VFD evaluation studies of your existing and newbuild fleet. If you are interested in other energy efficiency solutions, our engineering team can scope a wide range of options.

preliminary evaluation
  • Last years CII Rating performance
  • Improvement according to each solution
  • Energy Saving Device proposal
  • Detailed case vessel evaluation