Real-time Fleet Performance Center (FPC) to optimize energy efficiency in Maritime Transport to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions

Project Information

SEAHUB

Grant agreement ID: 744716

DOI

10.3030/744716

Project closed

EC signature date 2 December 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 28 February 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

Marorka ehf
Iceland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SEAHUB (Real-time Fleet Performance Center (FPC) to optimize energy efficiency in Maritime Transport to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions)

Reporting period: 2016-11-01 to 2017-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European Union and International Maritime Organization have put various regulations in place in order to reduce vessel CO2 emissions. These regulations affect mainly mid-sized to large vessels (GT>400 tons). These regulations demand from ship owners and operators to monitor, report and monitor fuel efficiency from any ship, whatever the flag or homeport. Furthermore, fuel efficiency is a major economic issue in the shipping industry, since fuel consumption amounts for 90% of voyage costs and 42% of the total operating costs.
With Seahub we are offering a fleet monitoring system that offers two reporting solutions: Marorka On-board (auto-logged report) and Marorka Manual Reporting Tool. Marorka On-board is a server-based solution, with data acquisition devices receiving information from ship sensors regarding ship energy efficiency. The Manual Reporting Tool is a manual alternative to Marorka On-board for chartered vessels or ships 15 years old or older.
These two reporting tools are complemented with a Fleet Performance Center (FPC), where all the information from Marorka On-board and Marorka Manual is received and analysed on real-time using advanced mathematical models. The information reported and analysed will provide useful information on actions to be taken to improve fuel and energy efficiency. From the Seahub FPC, Marorka staff will monitor entire fleets (100 vessels/person) assisting in decision making towards fuel consumption reduction and increased energy efficiency. This staff has years of experience and access to historical databases with large amounts of operational data.
Taking advantage of the Seahub service will allow ship owners and operators to reach a fuel consumption reduction that can be 15-20% depending on the case.
The main objective for Seahub is to offer a comprehensive solution that allows monitoring of entire fleets (regardless of age or charter-status) for regulative purposes, but also for reducing fuel consumption (15-20%) with the associated reduction in economic costs and CO2 and other GHG emissions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Task 1. Market Analysis. We have studied the Ship Monitoring Market. We have found that this market has large potential, growing at a compound annual rate of 23.9%. It is mainly regulation driven. We have estimated a market value for Seahub of €1,708 million. Evaluating the technical needs of the customers through interviews with stakeholders and own research, we find that Sehub offers a much needed solution in the market.
Task 2. Customer Proposition. We have presented two case studies based on pilots carried out with different end-users. The results of these pilot trials shows that the systems the end-users were using previously do not provide the quality of data necessary for good optimization of vessel operation. Furthermore, through focus groups, we have segmented the market and estimated the general characteristics of the end-users we will be addressing (both medium sized and large shipping companies). With the results in mind, we have presented the value proposition of Seahub: a comprehensive reporting solution valid for vessels of GT>500 tons of any age, chartered or owned. It provides economic savings in fuel consumption as large as $780,000/year.
Task 3. Systems/Product Development Roadmap. We have evaluated the status of development and the activities to be carried out in phase 2. We will upgrade the system to cover more variables, allow for real-time analysis of data and monitoring of entire fleets. Testing procedures with end-users are also planned. We have defined our IPR strategy and the pricing policy and sales forecast, which predict an accumulated potential revenue of €209 million after 3 years of commercialization.
Task 4. Partner search. We have studied the role of potential collaborators in Seahub. We will involve end-users and certification societies in various activities. However, Marorka will be carrying out most of the activities and thus will apply as a single participant.
Task 5. Implementation Plan for Phase 2. We have elaborated a work plan spanning 24 months for developing Seahub. The main technical risks have been identified and mitigation actions put in place. We have also identified potential sources of investment, from public institutions to private investors.
Task 6. Project Management. This task has been carried out throughout the project. It concludes with the submission of this deliverable. A GAP Analysis has been elaborated and an action plan designed to take Marorka to a leading position in the Ship Monitoring Market.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

There is presently in the market no comparable solution to Seahub.
Seahub combines a server-based reporting tool (Marorka On-board) with a Fleet Performance Center (FPC) where all the data sent from ship will be analysed real-time (<250 ms). This analysis will provide invaluable information to implement corrective measures on-voyage to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. In the FPC there will be staff with years of experience monitoring fleets and access to historic databases with large amount of operational data. This empowers Marorka staff to be able to make decisions and give advice on the best course of action to the vessel crew. Furthermore, the on-shore infrastructure will allow each staff member to monitor 100 vessels simultaneously. This will allow monitoring entire fleets and making decisions from a broad perspective, instead of on a vessel-by-vessel basis.
Furthermore, Seahub implements a Manual Reporting Tool for those ships where the auto-logged system cannot be implemented (charter vessels) or are too old for it to be economically worth it (>15 years old). This way, Seahub becomes a comprehensive solution for regulation demands on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as for fuel consumption reduction: 15-20% less fuel.
Fuel efficiency increase will have a major economic impact in ship owners and operators, since savings can be as high as $780,000 per vessel per year. Additionally, the reduction of fuel consumption is directly related with an equivalent reduction in CO2 and other GHG emissions.

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