30 to 70 per cent of overall ship operating costs are associated with fuel, according to agile maritime digitalisation company Ascenz. Inaccurate or unsafe bunkering practices can lead to costly and dangerous operations, with fires, oil overflow or spillages a risk. Accurate bunkering and effective monitoring is vital to ensure safe and correct operation as...
Stena Line has successfully used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict the most fuel-efficient way to operate a vessel, reducing fuel consumption by 2-3 per cent per trip. In 2018 Stena Line started a pilot project onboard the Stena Scandinavica on the Gothenburg – Kiel route using AI technology to determine the most efficient way...
Fischer Panda UK has announced a contract to supply, install and commission a complete electric propulsion system for the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) project. The installation includes motors, batteries, diesel generators and associated power and control electronics, which will help the vessel successfully achieve its unmanned Atlantic crossing, scheduled for September 2020. The voyage, from...
Giving vessels fins to optimise fuel performance An innovative technology by Norwegian company Wavefoil could see ships mimic the way whales move through water to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. A ship sailing through still water faces less resistance, and therefore consumes less fuel than one navigating a more turbulent environment. Waves that are...
A Maersk Tankers product tanker has achieved fuel savings of 8.2 per cent in a one-year period by harnessing wind power. A joint project including Maersk Tankers, Norsepower, the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company, fitted the product tanker Maersk Pelican with two Norsepower Rotor Sails in August 2018. From...
The data analytics duo Yxney Maritime and Grieg Connect are partnering with the Norwegian NOx Fund to develop a data-driven digital solution for automated NOx emissions reporting. Solstad Offshore and ferry operator Fjord1 will participate in the pilot phase of the project. The Norwegian NOx Fund records NOx emissions from all vessels operating in Norwegian...
The fuel efficiency and performance of a vessel depends on a multitude of factors, but according to Andreas Brekke, CEO of Norwegian technology company Miros, there is one vital piece missing from the performance optimisation puzzle. Accurate speed through water measurement is essential in order to gain a true understanding of vessel performance and the...
Lubricants supplier Castrol has advised the shipping industry to expect a period of ‘new normal’; where continuous change in environmental compliance standards is driven by regulation, adding layers of technical complexity for owners and operators. As the industry examines its current and future fuel choices in preparation for compliance with IMO 2020, Castrol warns that...
Norwegian software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions provider VesselMan has welcomed investors Grieg, Møkster Investment, and Skagerak Maturo to further strengthen its cloud-based management tool designed for ship maintenance and technical projects. Since 2016, VesselMan has secured agreements with shipping companies including Wilhelmsen Ship Management, Transpetrol TP, Höegh LNG, PGS, Møkster Investment, Thomas W. Grieg and Skagerak Maturo....
Tokyo headquartered MOL O.S.K. Lines has announced that it is joining the International Windship Association (IWSA) as a full member. The news comes following the recent AIP approval for the Wind Challenger, wind-assisted vessel design by Class NK. As an IWSA member, MOL will bring substantial experience and industry know-how on wind-assisted and primary wind...
ClassNK has announced its participation in the “Getting to Zero Coalition”, an international corporate coalition that promotes the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. The Getting to Zero Coalition is an alliance that aims to have commercially viable zero emission vessels powered by zero emission fuels operating along international trade routes by 2030. In order to...
Cargill, Maersk Tankers and Mitsui & Co. have established a strategic collaboration to drive fuel efficient shipping and accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime vessels. The three parties have recognised the urgency required to tackle the global issue of climate change and are continually driving progress in their respective lines...