Data analytics, connectivity speed up decarbonisation

Digitalisation is helping owners to demonstrate their environment, social and governance (ESG) credentials to port authorities, shipping companies and investors, and cut fuel consumption by up to 20%. Several solutions are available to owners, offering to monitor performance and fuel consumption from tugs, workboats and other harbour vessels, resulting in lower emissions during transits and operations.

VPS regional lead for digital and decarbonisation in Asia, Middle East and Africa, Amzah Hassan, says “Digital solutions help crew make real-time decisions" and managers to act on reliable and accurate information. “It is not just about compliance.”

Insights from data analytics enable owners to reduce their environmental footprint by cutting transit speed and thus fuel consumption, as already proven by major tug owners such as Boluda Towage, Fairplay Towage, Kotug International, P&O Maritime Logistics, PSA Marine and Svitzer – and to optimise engine performance and prevent downtime.

Opsealog founder and managing director Arnaud Dianoux agrees real-time data collection and processing helps owners to lower fuel costs, keep their vessels operating and reduce maintenance costs.

But there is a need to standardise data protocols and exchange between vessels, onboard equipment, manufacturers, owners and charterers. He says data standardisation is an essential baseline for the maritime industry to fully harness the power of digitalisation.

However, persistent data fragmentation is an obstacle to standardisation, with much of the data currently collected not creating value due to a lack of standardisation.

Inmarsat Maritime vice president for offshore and energy, Eric Griffin, explains how onboard data is increasingly used for condition-based and predictive maintenance to prevent machinery issues turning into breakdowns, and to track vessel performance.

“Early detection of issues should lead to corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of underperformance and failure,” he says. “There have been improvements in performance and energy consumption.”

Data is sent over Inmarsat’s satellite constellation from vessels to shore or cloud-based applications for analysis, resulting in owners obtaining operational insight.

Another application of satellite communications is connecting salvage teams, tug crews and seafarers with engineering experts onshore to tackle maintenance and operational issues.

Mr Griffin says a US-based owner uses high-speed connectivity to monitor operations in real-time, apply remote diagnostics and integrate vessel IT with cloud-based and onshore digital networks.

Inmarsat satellites, those in geostationary Earth orbit, Eutelsat OneWeb’s low Earth orbit constellation and 4G networks are used to transfer data to shore for performance insights.

Ascenz Marorka managing director Jon Tan says around 3,000 ships worldwide are using its solution for energy monitoring. Sensors and flow meters measure fuel consumption, tank levels and analyse emissions, with this data displayed on the bridge for crew.

It is communicated to a cloud-based facility and can be viewed by fleet managers and superintendents, giving information on engine and vessel performance.

Ascenz Marorka has a centre in Singapore for real-time performance monitoring, says Mr Tan. “We provide insight and advice. Owners and managers can see real-time key performance indicators,” he adds. “It is a combination of the right technology and expertise.”

Online applications include fleet monitoring, detailed emissions reporting, measuring engine performance and running hours, machinery optimisation and smart bunkering.

Companies such as FuelTrax and Brightree provide flow meters and satellite communications, enabling tug owners to monitor fuel consumption and theft. Brightree chief executive Kevin Peng says data is sent over Inmarsat and Thuraya satellites to owners and charterers to lower consumption and for fuel security. 

“In Indonesia, when charterers pay for the fuel, crew have sometimes sold fuel to local fishermen,” says Mr Peng. Regular packets of fuel flow data would enable charterers and owners to identify this fuel theft and act appropriately.

Fueltrax director of operations in southeast Asia, Faiz Azani agrees monitoring fuel data prevents thefts, saving money for owners. Fueltrax is installed on more than 1,000 vessels, 70% of these operate in the offshore sector and 20% are tugboats – operating in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Gulf of Mexico.

It supplies the flow meters and sends data to owners and operators using Iridium’s low Earth orbit. “Our clients monitor and measure fuel consumption and identify any fuel theft attempts,” says Mr Azani. “We help clients optimise fuel and to estimate CO2 emissions savings. They can save 20-30% of fuel on vessels.”