BW launches vessel performance optimisation venture

They are combining BW’s maritime expertise with Miros radar technology to provide accurate data of the operating conditions of a vessel. The two companies expect this application of radar will help to overcome the performance inefficiencies of the shipping industry by providing reliable information in actual operating conditions, such as the vessel’s speed and performance during different weather and sea states.

“To be able to understand if an investment is truly optimising the performance of your vessel, you need to account for weather,” said BW Dry Cargo managing director Christian Bonfils.

“Miros Mocean technology gives access to accurate speed through water and weather data at the precise ship location,” he explained. “Combined with fuel flow and main engine power meters, we can quantify fuel savings of up to 10% on a single voyage,” said Mr Bonfils.

“It has also helped to change the legal contracts to actual performance instead of warranties, setting the standard for the future of this industry,” he said.

Miros Mocean provides real-time decision support for owners, operators and managers to improve the performance of ships in actual ocean conditions to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Vessel owners and operators can integrate highly accurate weather data into their existing vessel performance systems for further performance enhancements.

Charter party contracts can be optimised by using the measured performance of a vessel rather than warranties, and documentation of true weather conditions can be provided to remove uncertainty from claims.

Lack of precision in vessel speed control and lack of accurate weather data are thought to be the largest known factors contributing to suboptimal vessel performance leading to excess fuel oil consumption and CO₂ emissions, according to class society DNV Group president and chief executive Remi Eriksen.

“Decarbonising the shipping industry is the grand challenge of our time,” he said. “International regulators and other key stakeholders have set clear and ambitious goals for emissions reductions, and for the industry to progress, accurate measurement and reporting of emissions data will be important.”

BW has been using Miros radar on its ships for safe navigation and more accurate vessel performance information for ship optimisation.

Vessel performance optimisation and technologies for reducing emissions will be discussed during Riviera’s series of virtual conferences and webinars during 2021 - use this link to access more details and register for these events