Based on a research by TNO Flinter Management BV increased efficiency and realised significant fuel savings without loss of speed by reducing the shaft speed of a 3000 ton short sea general cargo vessel. An active front-end solution was installed by Alewijnse Noord BV to allow continued usage of the shaft generator also at a variable shaft speed.

Most short sea vessels are operated in sub-optimal conditions. Retrofiting these vessels with above modification to the propulsion and electricity generating plant will allow a more flexible but yet sustainable operation. A fuel consumption and emission reduction of up to 20% has been verified.