By : Alexey Fitiskin
The marine fuel optimization system allows the shipowners to track, measure and display the exact amount of fuel oil used. Fuel consumption optimization systems not only provide the amount of fuel used during the trip, but also provide additional data related to fuel usage. Vessel fuel optimization systems provide statistical information on various parameters, such as the amount of fuel used by a particular engine or generator while moving at sea or in port.
To analyze fuel consumption, it is possible to gather and use data not only about the engine, but also many other external parameters affecting fuel consumption.
In fact, earlier it was possible only to analyze data on consumption after arrival to the port, for example, this captain exceeds the recommended speed on the route, which affects the additional expense and financial costs. It is really good and useful if captain or crew or even shipowner could see this data in real time and adjust the actions on board related to fuel consumption. To plan the optimal route, not only in terms of ETA, but also fuel costs / consumption it is necessary to analyze various number of factors and data.
What opportunities for ship companies opens up using a fuel optimization system?
The owner and the management of the shipping company thus receives tools for significant optimization of activities: saving even 5% of fuel will save up to $ 100,000 per year from 1 vessel, at a cost of 30 tons per day at a price of $ 250 per ton and 280 days at sea. It can only be provided with preventive measures, building effective models, collecting a large amount of data and machine learning in order to submit analytical and forecast data for approval to the management of the ship company and the master.
What factors contribute to lower fuel costs?
Hull condition
The control of this parameter can give fuel optimization up to 7%
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Vessel size
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Hull fouling
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Hull damage
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Hull paint
Engine condition
The control of this parameter can give fuel optimization up to 5%
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Shaft
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Engine fuel consumption
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RPM (Revolutions per minute)
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Thrust
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Fuel rate
Trim and draft
Monitoring these parameters will provide up to 5% fuel savings
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Draft
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Trim
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Solidity
Weather conditions
Route planning based on weather conditions will give up to 3% optimization
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Air temperature
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Cloud cover
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Ice cover
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Humidity
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Current speed
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Current direction
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Gust
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Swell direction
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Swell height
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Swell period
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Wave direction
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Visibility
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Water temperature
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Sea level
Vessel speed
Correct vessel speed can give fuel optimization up to 3%
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Min speed
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Max speed
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Average speed
How is the reduction in fuel consumption on ships implemented?
Optimization system consists of 3 parts:
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Hardware
Hardware part installed on the vessel.
This part of the system is responsible for gathering information about vessel and vessel performance, for example, Location, speed, RPM
It is a computer that accumulates data from a ship through and transmits an array of data to a neural network for further processing as well as received all planned routes and transmits it to ECDIS.
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Machine learning module
A set of algorithms and mathematical models that are responsible for processing all data from the vessel and external data. Based on the results of processing the received data, the module offers several alternative routes for the movement of the vessel in order to save fuel
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Software
