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LeanShips · Project

Proven Clean Ship Engines and Retrofits That Cut Fuel Costs by 25%

transportPilotedTRL 7
leanships-project.eu

Imagine your car guzzles fuel and belches black smoke — now imagine someone shows you a kit that makes it run cleaner and cheaper, and they prove it works on real roads, not just in a lab. That's what LeanShips did for ships. They took 8 different clean technologies — like engines running on methanol or compressed natural gas — and tested them on actual vessels at full scale. The result: ships that burn up to 25% less fuel and slash harmful emissions by up to 100%.

By the numbers
up to 25%
Fuel savings
at least 25%
CO2 emission reduction
10-100%
SOx/NOx/PM emission reduction
8
Full-scale demonstration actions
52
Consortium partners
14
Countries represented
85%
Industry participation ratio
€57 million
Industry co-investment in demonstrators
The business problem

What needed solving

Shipping companies face a double squeeze: fuel is one of their largest operating costs, and emission regulations (IMO sulphur cap, EU MRV, upcoming carbon pricing) keep tightening. Retrofitting or replacing vessels with cleaner technology is expensive and risky — most solutions are unproven at the scale that matters. Operators need demonstrated, full-scale evidence before committing millions to engine conversions or new fuel systems.

The solution

What was built

Eight full-scale demonstrators covering engines, fuels, drive trains, hull and propulsor improvements, and emission abatement systems. Key deliverables include a running methanol-fueled engine, a CNG-powered RSD 2512 vessel demonstrator, and validated performance data from a retrofitted ship operating in real conditions.

Audience

Who needs this

Short-sea and intra-European shipping companies looking to cut fuel costsShipyards offering newbuild or retrofit services for mid-size vesselsOffshore service vessel operators facing emission zone restrictionsCruise and leisure vessel operators under pressure for greener operationsMaritime equipment suppliers seeking proven clean propulsion technologies
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Maritime Shipping
mid-size
Target: Short-sea and intra-European shipping operators

If you are a shipping company dealing with rising fuel costs and tightening emission regulations in European waters — this project demonstrated engine and fuel technologies that deliver up to 25% fuel savings and SOx/NOx/PM reductions of 10-100%. With full-scale test results from a retrofitted vessel, you can evaluate proven retrofit options before committing capital. The consortium includes ship owners who validated these solutions in operational conditions.

Shipbuilding & Repair
enterprise
Target: European shipyards building or retrofitting mid-size vessels

If you are a shipyard looking to offer greener vessel options to your clients — LeanShips produced 8 working demonstrators including a methanol-fueled engine and a CNG-powered RSD 2512 vessel. These are ready-to-integrate solutions that can differentiate your newbuild or retrofit offering. The project was led by Damen Shipyards with 44 industrial partners, so the supply chain is already mapped.

Offshore & Cruise Operations
enterprise
Target: Offshore service vessel and leisure cruise operators

If you are an offshore or cruise operator facing port emission restrictions and client pressure for greener operations — this project targeted your exact market segment. Demonstrations showed CO2 reductions of at least 25% and near-zero SOx/NOx/PM emissions. With 52 partners across 14 countries having validated these technologies, the risk of adoption is significantly lower than unproven alternatives.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to retrofit our vessels with these technologies?

The project does not publish per-vessel retrofit pricing. However, the 8 demonstrators represented a total industry investment of approximately €57 million, which gives a sense of scale for full demonstration programs. Contact the consortium for quotes tailored to your vessel type and size.

Can these solutions work on our existing fleet, or only new builds?

Both. LeanShips explicitly targeted new and existing vessels. One of the key demonstrators was a retrofitted ship with full-scale test results proving performance in operational conditions. The project was designed to show ship owners that retrofit is a viable path.

Who owns the intellectual property, and can we license these technologies?

IP is held by the individual consortium partners — primarily the 44 industrial companies including Damen Shipyards and equipment suppliers. Since this was an Innovation Action with 85% industry participation, most technologies were developed with commercialization in mind. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with each technology provider.

Are these technologies proven at industrial scale or still experimental?

These are proven at full scale. The project ran 8 demonstration actions with technologies demonstrated mostly at full-scale in operational environments. Deliverables include a running methanol-fueled engine, a CNG vessel demonstrator, and measured performance data from a retrofitted ship.

Do these solutions help us comply with IMO 2020 and EU emission regulations?

Based on project data, the technologies deliver SOx/NOx/PM reductions of 10-100% and CO2 reductions of at least 25%. These figures align well with IMO sulphur cap requirements and EU MRV obligations. The methanol and CNG fuel options directly address SOx limits without scrubbers.

How quickly could we implement these on our vessels?

The project ran from 2015 to 2019 and produced operational demonstrators. Since the technologies started at TRL 3-4 and were demonstrated at full scale, implementation timelines depend on your vessel type. The consortium includes shipyards and equipment suppliers who can provide realistic retrofit schedules.

Consortium

Who built it

The LeanShips consortium is one of the most industry-heavy you will find in EU research — 44 out of 52 partners are industrial companies, making up 85% of the partnership. It is led by Damen Shipyards (Scheepswerf Damen Gorinchem BV), one of Europe's largest shipbuilders, headquartered in the Netherlands. The consortium spans 14 countries with 11 SMEs contributing specialized equipment and services. With only 3 universities and 3 research organizations, this was clearly a market-driven project, not an academic exercise. The industry partners invested approximately €57 million of their own money into the 8 demonstrators, which signals serious commercial intent behind these technologies.

How to reach the team

Damen Shipyards (Scheepswerf Damen Gorinchem BV) in the Netherlands coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the right technical contact.

Order a report on this consortiumSee SCHEEPSWERF DAMEN GORINCHEM BV profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know which LeanShips technology fits your fleet? SciTransfer can match your vessel profile with the right consortium partner and arrange a technical briefing. Contact us for a free one-page solution brief.

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