DNV GL explains how vessel owners can cut costs through vessel optimisation and remote monitoring
Shipowners and operators can save more than 30% by using the digitalisation toolbox, with 10-15% energy efficiencies achieved through data-driven optimisation.
Another 10-15% could be saved through centralising tasks, remote monitoring and control, plus 2-3% if remote inspections are adopted and 2% when operators introduce smart maintenance, according to DNV GL.
Some of these benefits can be achieved through vessel owner investment, but others are controlled by charterers if they pay the fuel costs, said DNV GL business and segment director for special ships Arnstein Eknes.
Vessel owners need solid reasoning and to co-operate with charterers before investing in digitalisation. “Know your business case before you enter the toolbox, because the box is really big,” he said during Riviera Maritime Media’s How to develop and implement a digital performance strategy to optimise vessel performance webinar on 14 May.
“It is advanced and moving fast, so you need to know what you want from it.” This may not just be about energy savings. Internal efficiencies and safety and maintenance could be improved, and downtime reduced.
“Perhaps there is something to help you create value for your customers,” Mr Eknes added. “Or where you can see the opportunity to deliver completely different things than what you are doing today.”
“Improving internal efficiencies is about savings and creating value for customers,” said Mr Eknes. “There is access to data and connectivity to make better decisions, and new services that you could not do without the new tools.”
This may lead to adopting different maintenance practices on a vessel or across a fleet.
“The condition-based systems are not always about reducing costs, but connecting systems, giving you better decisions so you avoid downtime and increase availability of the fleet,” Mr Eknes explained.
Vessel owners can achieve 15.2% energy efficiencies through incremental investments, including 3.2% improving ship performance, another 6.4% by tackling voyage performance and operations, and 5.6% optimising engines and consumables.
Vessel operators can also improve their external effectiveness to secure their income which has become increasingly tough in 2020 due to coronavirus and sinking oil prices.
External efficiencies can include improving transparency of vessel operations and ship availability, reducing emissions and customers’ total cost of operation, which is more valuable than aiming for sub-optimised improvement, said Mr Eknes.
“Transformational change requires collaboration to change work processes and building trust,” he said. It also needs a change in mindset.
“It is important to create a culture and stimulate behaviour change, to know what is actually driving the reasons and the resources you want to achieve,” said Mr Eknes.
He was joined on the panel during the webinar by Van Oord director for digital transformation Mare Straetmans, VAF Instruments director of research and development Erik van Ballegooijen and Startup Wharf founder and managing director Leonardo Zangrando.
Watch the How to develop and implement a digital performance strategy to optimise vessel performance webinar in our webinar library
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