Manta Marine Technologies and Foreship have signed a framework agreement for MMT to provide end-to-end delivery of Manta Air Lubrication, a proven energy-efficiency solution. The technology creates a micro-bubble layer beneath vessel hulls to reduce frictional resistance, yielding net fuel and emission savings between 3% and 8%. By combining MMT’s project management expertise with Foreship’s advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, the partnership aims to simplify adoption and accelerate maritime decarbonization.
Hamburg | September 1, 2026 – Manta Marine Technologies (MMT) and Foreship (part of RINA) have forged a strategic framework agreement to streamline and accelerate the delivery of advanced air lubrication technology to the global maritime sector.
Under the terms of the agreement, MMT takes full commercial and operational responsibility for Manta Air Lubrication, a proven energy-efficiency solution originally engineered on Foreship’s proprietary air lubrication system design.
Technology and Efficiency Gains
The air lubrication system creates a controlled, continuous layer of micro-bubbles beneath a ship’s flat bottom, significantly reducing frictional hydrodynamic resistance between the hull and the water.
- Target Vessels: Highly applicable to both newbuild projects and complex retrofits, performing exceptionally well on large commercial vessels.
- Fuel & Emission Reductions: Delivers verified net fuel savings ranging from 3% to 8%, depending directly on the specific vessel type, size, and operational profile.
- Proven Track Record: The underlying technology is already installed and operating successfully on more than 25 commercial vessels worldwide.
Streamlined End-to-End Project Delivery
Historically, the widespread adoption of air lubrication has faced hurdles due to perceived project complexity, integration risks, and performance uncertainties. This partnership is specifically designed to eliminate those barriers through a synchronized division of labor:
- Manta Marine Technologies: Manages the entire project lifecycle, encompassing initial feasibility assessments, detailed design and engineering, installation, commissioning, independent performance verification, and ongoing lifecycle support.
- Foreship: Provides high-end technical backing, utilizing advanced full-scale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis and hydrodynamic expertise during the feasibility phase to optimize system configurations and establish accurate, reliable performance baselines.
Industry Leadership Perspectives
Highlighting the strategic alignment of the collaboration, Aleksander Askeland, CFO of Manta Marine Technologies, noted “This technology is an excellent fit for MMT’s portfolio of intelligent green technologies. By partnering with Foreship, we are ensuring that our customers receive a solution that is not only technically superior but can be seamlessly integrated.”
Jan-Erik Räsänen, Marine Energy Transition Executive Director at Foreship, added “By combining our hydrodynamic know-how and full-scale CFD methodology with MMT’s track record in efficient system delivery and rigorous performance validation, we can help shipowners evaluate, implement, and realise the benefits of air lubrication technology with greater confidence.”
The Manta Air Lubrication system made its official market debut at RINA and Foreship’s booth during the SMM Hamburg exhibition.
About Manta Marine Technologies
Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with strategic branches across Sweden, Poland, and China, Manta Marine Technologies has driven maritime emissions reduction since 2010 by collaborating closely with shipowners, yards, and naval architects. The company delivers an extensive portfolio of cutting-edge green technologies designed to future-proof global fleets, ranging from advanced vessel optimization platforms like Route Pilot AI, FuelOpt, and Fleet Analytics to turnkey shore power solutions and comprehensive $\text{SO}_x$ lifecycle services.
Source: Manta Marine Technologies