A ship is provided with microbubble generators attached below the
waterline to supply microbubbles, which decrease the ship's frictional
resistance during navigation and improve fuel efficiency. The below
waterline region (L.W.L.) of the ship is divided into an upper region
(R1) proximate the waterline, and a lower region (R2) proximate the
ship's bottom. The air supply to the microbubble generators (10) in the
upper region (R1) is performed through a pipe (3), one end of which is
exposed to the atmosphere. The air supply to the microbubble generators
(10) in the lower region (R2) is performed through a branch pipe (6) from
a pipe (5) using an assist compressor (4), which is arranged as a closed
system instead of being exposed to the atmosphere.