On the Drag Reduction of a Passenger Ship with Air Cavity

It is known that lubrication effect of an air cavity can reduced a drag of a ship. The present study intends to utilize the phenomena for the drag reduction of a passenger ship now operating in a lake. A scaled model of the model when air cavities are formed under the bottom of the model. Model experiments have been performed to determine adequate air supply rates, proper shapes and locations of air supply nozzles. It is shown that energy saving of mere than 10% can be achieved at the design speed of the ship even after excluding additional power consumed for air supplying. Multiple air supply nozzles, if allocated properly, are more effective than single one in resistance reduction of the ship.