Helsinki, Finland. May 23, 2012 – A new M2M study of trim optimisation, said to be the most comprehensive of its kind, has exposed the extent of oil tanker fuel inefficiency. It confirms potential annual fuel savings of US$482,000 (730 tons) per oil tanker, plus gains of a further $277,000 (420 tons) enabled via monitoring hull fouling resistance.
The unprecedented study assessed the impact of dynamic trim optimisation and used machine-to-machine (M2M) monitoring of hull fouling resistance on propulsion energy efficiency. It was conducted by Eniram Ltd, the Finnish provider of real-time decision support solutions for the shipping and marine industry.
Eniram’s landmark study focusing on the efficiency of Propulsion Energy on a very large crude carrier (VLCC) of more than 320,000 DWT (deadweight tonnes – or carrying capacity) is the most comprehensive of its kind due to the volume of data collected during 450 days at sea from attitude sensors positioned across the vessel. These M2M sensors, along with dynamic data retrieved from operational vessel management applications, delivered the data to help the vessel operator assess the impact of sailing at non-optimal trim in terms of propulsion power consumption and fuel use.
It revealed potential savings of 2.6% in annual fuel costs for the vessel, which translates to $482,000 (730 tons of fuel) annually – through dynamic trim optimisation alone.
Also of note were the findings relating to the impact of added resistance due to hull fouling. Data collected in the Eniram study found that the impact of fouling on the VLCC grew by 2.9% during the study period alone. The average impact on propulsion power consumption was 1.5%, translating to $277,000 (420 tons of fuel) annually.
Highlighting the significance of these findings, Henrik Dahl, CTO at Eniram, noted, “While cruise operators can usually predict the rate of increase in fouling because their routes are very predictable, tankers don’t have this luxury as they typically cover a wide range of ocean regions. As a result, it has been hard until now for tanker operators to quantify the effect of fouling and the related impact on fuel consumption.”
Data gathered on board can monitor the impact of fuel efficiency due to changes in hull resistance as a result of fouling, so that remedial action can be taken.
“The findings from our study provide valuable insight into tankers’ operating efficiency at a time of continued high bunker prices and a volatile global economy impacting margins,” Henrik notes. “Fuel represents the largest operational cost to shipping companies.”
Similar Eniram studies are also being performed on several other VLCCs globally as well as container and cruise vessels.
Eniram provides the maritime industry with innovative decision support systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions as well as to support decision making with information analytics. Eniram solutions range from single onboard applications to comprehensive fleet analysis. To download a full copy of the VLCC Propulsion Energy Efficiency Study report, go to:
http://www.eniram.fi/VLCC-tanker-study-order