During the first 12 months of the project, FUELSAVE has developed and tested new approaches to enhance the core FS MARINE+ technology - a patent pending carbonfiber-sandwich-electrode and an innovative electrolyser rinse element (WP1). Based on these improvements, FUELSAVE designed the pilot installation unit V5 and finalized the risk-assessment together with the largest engine manufacturer MAN Energy solutions SE. In order to obtain the class approval from the largest marine classification society DNV GL (WP1) to build and install this FS MARINE V5 unit onboard a vessel from our pilot customer SAL Heavy lift GmbH, a leading heavy crane lift shipping company, based in Hamburg, Germany.
In Parallel FUELSAVE designed and build a prototype containerized FS MARINE+ unit V6 (WP1) ahead of schedule. This unit is currently prepared for approval and testing deployment onboard a container vessel of one of the leading European container shipping companies.
In-line with the technical progress, FUELSAVE was continuously working on the project and company communication (WP2), filing several competition applications, speaking on renown shipping and climate conferences and presenting the unique V6 containerized FS MARINE+ prototype on the world’s largest shipping event, the SMM 2018 in Hamburg, supported by a high-level 3D, technical visualisation (WP2).
To ensure the technical roll-out of FS MARINE+, as a core activity of business and partnership development, FUELSAVE has done thorough market research and competitor analysis, build up strong relationships with leading marine service providers, classification societies and engine manufacturers (WP3). To gain even more market traction and raise product awareness, FUELSAVE has established a comprehensive reseller and agency network with more than a dozen partners covering major markets worldwide – North and South Europe, USA, Asia, Africa and India (WP3).
Due to the huge interest in FS MARINE+ and its unique customer benefits, FUELSAVE has adapted its commercialisation strategy and is meanwhile in constant contact with several shipping companies, providing news updates, business case analysis, and advanced project designs (WP4). Among these customers are the absolute world market leaders in container, heavy lift, cruise and inland shipping resulting in a sales funnel of more than 3,000 vessels.
All the project management tasks have been carried out in a separate work package (WP5), with an important focus on developing and monitoring FUELSAVE IP, filing new patent applications and extending already existing patents to the TOP40 industrial countries worldwide.