European collaborative project GATERS brings together 18 technology experts and prime stakeholders to demonstrate and exploit the benefits of the innovative energy saving propulsor/maneuvering device, “Gate Rudder System (GRS)”, on ships as a retrofit. This 3-years (Feb 2021 – Jan 2024) Innovation Action project is led by the University of Strathclyde (NAOME) academic team under the EC’s H2020 framework (Grant Agreement: 860337) program with an approx. 6M EUR budget to develop the next generation green propulsion system. This presentation gives a brief overview of the Gate Rudder System and the GATERS projects and focuses on the critical drydocking activities conducted for the project target vessel, the existing 90m General Cargo Ship MV ERGE with her conventional rudder system (CRS) with a flap. The overview involves the retrofitting task of the Gate Rudder System (GRS) designed for her by highlighting the details and results of the pre- and post-GRS retrofit full-scale trials for powering, maneuvering and underwater noise radiation (URN) performances of MV ERGE without compromising on the environmental impact by the reduced URN, while presenting a massive fuel saving compared to the vessel with her previous CRS.