The full article is available to our Members and registered users. If you are a Member, please sign in to continue reading. If you are not a Member, you can access 1 complimentary article this month by registering for a free account.
Become a Member to access the full range of RINA’s technical publications, articles and professional resources.
MIT research shows how to cut ship drag by up to 7.5%
27th Apr 2026
MIT used computational fluid dynamics, AI-assisted optimisation and physical scale model testing for their study.
Researchers at MIT have demonstrated that small wedge-shaped vortex generators fitted to a ship’s hull can reduce drag by up to 7.5%, offering a practical and potentially low-cost route to cutting fuel consumption and emissions.
The findings were presented at the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers’ Maritime Convention in Norfolk, Virginia. The research team, drawn from MIT Sea Grant, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Center for Bits and Atoms, used a combination of computational fluid dynamics, AI-assisted optimisation and physical scale model testing to