EcoNavis receives U.S. Federal Grant by NFWF to study on integrated propulsion optimisation
Eco Boss Cap technology and cavitation comparison
EcoNavis Solutions has been selected by a U.S. Federal Government agency to lead a federally backed project aimed at demonstrating how integrated hydrodynamic optimisation can reduce fuel consumption and underwater radiated noise in offshore vessels and workboats operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
The award, valued at US$500,000, will support a full-scale retrofit and validation programme on a designated workboat, with the objective of establishing a repeatable framework for improving propulsion efficiency while addressing increasing scrutiny around underwater radiated noise.
Integrated approach to vessel performance
Rather than assessing individual technologies in isolation, the project will evaluate the combined impact of multiple energy-saving devices applied as an integrated system. The approach reflects a broader shift within the industry towards whole-vessel performance, particularly as operators face more stringent emissions and environmental rules along with rising fuel costs.
Dr Batuhan Aktas, Founder and CEO of EcoNavis Solutions, said the programme is designed to move beyond theoretical gains and deliver measurable operational results.
“This project allows us to validate, at full scale, how an integrated set of hydrodynamic technologies can improve propulsion efficiency and reduce underwater noise in real operating conditions,” he said. “The focus is not on a single device, but on how the entire propulsion train can be optimised and verified through data.”
Technical scope
The technical scope centres on the integration of a new flow-aligned twisted rudder, dubbed EcoVane; EcoNavis’ proprietary propeller hub Eco Boss Cap; and pressure-relieving modifications to the propeller blades. Each element targets a different source of hydrodynamic loss, from wake misalignment and drag at the rudder to vortex formation and cavitation at the propeller hub and blades.
“By addressing these effects collectively, the project is expected to deliver efficiency improvements of around five per cent, alongside a reduction in underwater radiated noise of more than three decibels,” said Dr Aktas.
The figures will be validated through controlled before-and-after sea trials, including direct measurement of shaft power and acoustic output.
Methodology and standards
The work will begin with computational modelling to establish a performance baseline for the selected vessel, followed by iterative design optimisation using vessel-specific flow analysis. Manufacturing, installation and full-scale trials will then be carried out, with all performance data collected and verified using recognised international standards, including ISO 15016 for fuel efficiency and ISO 17208-1 for underwater noise measurement.
EcoNavis will lead the hydrodynamic design and simulation work, supported by a consortium of propulsion specialists that include King Propulsion, CJR Propulsion and Oscar Propulsion.
Duncan Troy, the CEO of project partner Oscar Propulsion, the company behind the novel PressurePores technology where holes on the propeller blades mitigate cavitation noise, said: “The Gulf of Mexico has been identified as a key operating environment for the programme, given the high concentration of offshore support, harbour and crew transfer vessels, as well as increasing regulatory focus on both emissions and acoustic impact on marine ecosystems.
“The industry is under pressure from both fuel costs and regulation. What owners need are solutions that are not only technically effective, but commercially realistic. This project is about proving both.”
The project will also draw on established class approval and manufacturing processes to ensure that the solutions are scalable and suitable for wider fleet adoption. Beyond the demonstration vessel, the programme aims to generate a validated dataset that can support wider deployment across similar vessel classes.
EcoNavis said further updates, including details of the selected vessel and trial results, will be released as the project progresses.
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Speak to EcoNavis about integrated vessel-specific propulsion optimisation for your fleet.
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EcoNavis accelerates growth with Innovate UK ICURe Grant
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EcoNavis Solutions, the maritime technology company behind the novel Eco Boss Cap propeller hub, has secured a major investment package and joined a leading accelerator programme as it scales operations to meet growing industry demand for its hydrodynamic efficiency solutions.
The Glasgow-based start-up has been awarded £300,000 in funding through the UK’s Innovate UK ICURe Exploit programme to support the commercialisation of university research. EcoNavis Solutions is a commercial spinout from the University of Strathclyde.
The funding follows EcoNavis Solutions’ successful completion of all stages of the ICURe process, including extensive product testing and validation.
“This is a unique form of funding,” said EcoNavis founder and CEO Dr Batuhan Aktas, “because it reimburses 100% of the costs as we scale, including salaries, exhibitions, customer engagement and business development. It’s a significant endorsement of the commercial potential of our technology.”
Glasgow growth
EcoNavis has also been accepted into the Smart Things Accelerator Centre, a specialist technology scale-up hub in Glasgow. The 18-month programme provides mentoring and support across four structured growth stages. The company now occupies dedicated office space at the centre and has grown its core team, including a Chief Technical Officer, Chief Operating Officer, lead CFD engineer, and an administrative manager.
“The growth in 2025 has been substantial,” said Aktas. “At the start of the year, we were just a couple of people. Now, with funding and structured support in place, we’re putting the right expertise and infrastructure in place to take environmentally and energy-efficient solutions through to large-scale commercial adoption.”
EcoNavis is also awaiting responses to several additional grant applications. These include a £100,000 request to Scottish Enterprise under the Smart Grant scheme and a US$500,000 proposal to the US-based National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support collaborative trials on offshore crew transfer vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Eco Boss Cap, a hydrodynamic energy-saving device fitted to a ship’s propeller hub cap, is the first of the company’s research-led projects to be brought to market. Under development since 2022, the Eco Boss Cap is designed to improve propulsion efficiency by more than 2%, reduce emissions, and deliver measurable fuel savings across a range of vessel types and speeds.
Explore vessel-specific performance improvement
EcoNavis develops hydrodynamic energy-saving devices tailored to each vessel’s hull, propeller and rudder interaction. To assess whether Eco Boss Cap or an integrated optimisation package may be suitable for your fleet, contact the EcoNavis team.
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