Marubeni LPG vessels see 30% GHG reductions in prototype trial

Marubeni Corporation has successfully tested a mitigation approach to the industry-wide practice of "Sail Fast Then Wait" (SFTW), achieving substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions during a three-month prototype trial.

The trial involved 16 LPG tankers across 40 voyages and highlighted the potential for emissions savings in the First Come First Served (FCFS) operational environment.

The initiative tested an optimisation tool providing recommendations to reduce speed and emissions, leaving the final decision to vessel operators.

Monitoring 919 vessels to ensure trial participants maintained their competitive positioning, Marubeni implemented 31 actionable recommendations, achieving average fuel and emissions savings of 29%.

Participating vessels reduced speeds from 13.6 knots to 10.6 knots during the trial.

The project is part of the Blue Visby Solution (BVS), a collaborative initiative aimed at systemic optimisation in maritime operations.

BVS emphasises reducing the carbon footprint associated with SFTW—a practice responsible for around 20% of shipping’s emissions.

The Marubeni trial highlighted BVS’s viability as a decision-support tool in mitigating emissions without commercial disadvantage, even in competitive environments.

Consortium coordinators remarked that these trials build on previous tests involving dry bulk carriers, extending the application of BVS to new segments.

NAPA executive vice-president and director Blue Visby director Pekka Pakkanen and Stephenson Harwood partner Haris Zografakis said in a joint statement: “Over a period of several years, the Blue Visby Solution project has progressed iteratively through studies, simulations, virtual pilots to prototype trials.”

“The combined experience of two sets of prototype trials over a period of six months, with the invaluable support of Blue Visby Consortium members CBH Group and Marubeni Corporation, has demonstrated the feasibility of deploying the Blue Visby Solution in the two main operating environments in maritime trade: terminal stem and First Come First Served.”