While the voting procedure for the 2019 SMART4SEA Awards is open, Mr. Johan Backas, Managing Director at Eniram, a Wärtsilä Company, outlines ways to improve energy efficiency for which the company has been shortlisted in the ‘Energy Efficiency’ category among other distinguished nominees. Mr. Backas mentions that the shipping industry has successfully adapted to technology evolution, highlighting that smart technology is the key in enabling and unlocking the fleet’s efficiency potential. However, the challenge for all industry stakeholders is to become ‘more open’. Thus, industry should not only adapt to the available smart technology but also to keep an open mind and follow the example of other industries.
SAFETY4SEA: When it comes to tackling the shipping challenges with respect to energy efficiency, what are the core priorities on your agenda?
Johan Backas: Our core priority has always been improving and maximising our customers’ energy efficiency through digital insights. We do this through a combination of solutions, available at for onshore and onboard users. Smart Technology is the key in enabling and unlocking the fleet’s efficiency potential. For Eniram, data is at the core of our technology. Our priority is to continue adding insights to data collected from our customers’ vessels, either through equipment we provide ourselves or utilising existing platforms. This enables us and our customers to identify opportunities for improvement at fleet, voyage and vessel and voyage level. In some cases, we have existing tools to address these opportunities. In other cases, new tools may need to be developed or even changes in the customer organisation and processes may be identified. Energy efficiency is all about continuous improvement, so naturally we cannot be restricted by our current solutions or customers’ current state. We constantly listen to what our customers need and what the data is telling us and developing our solutions accordingly.
We see through our benchmarking tools that the shipping industry focuses very unevenly on operational efficiencies. Our target is to create an understanding of where the fuel was is used on a voyage from A to B by breaking down the components such as routing, weather, engines and auxiliary equipment. Operational inefficiencies can be measured in double digit percentages.
S4S: What is your organization doing differently in order to prepare for a more sustainable future?
J.B.: Wärtsilä has redefined its entire purpose as a company in “Enabling Sustainable Societies with Smart Technology”. So, it’s not about doing something slightly differently, our organisation is entirely focused around building a sustainable future. There are plenty of examples in Wärtsilä’s current offering which support our purpose, such as
- more efficient engines and equipment upgrades aiming at reducing fuel consumption
- engine and powerplant solutions for cleaner air and reduced CO2 emissions
- exhaust gas cleaning and engine emissions measurement
- ballast water treatment
- Waste, oil and fresh water management
Eniram is focusing on optimisation solutions and software tools aiming at improving energy efficiency on a fleet, voyage and vessel levels.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans that you would like to share with the rest of the industry?
J.B.: Our portfolio of solutions is designed to meet the different needs of all players in the industry, whether you are just beginning your digitalization journey or are looking to make your smart operations even smarter. During 2019 we are planning to introduce enhanced energy efficiency solutions which meet the differing needs of the market, across the industry segments and maturity levels of the organisations.
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
J.B.: Despite perceptions, often originating outside shipping, the shipping industry has successfully adapted to technology evolution or business models throughout its history. Evolution of vessel propulsion systems, bigger vessels, economies of scale and containerisation are some examples. Some of these examples are more disruptive than others, some of them are natural transitions rather than disruptions, LNG and alternative fuels, for example. We I think we are now experiencing another major transformation. It’s easy to dismiss “digital” as something not tangible or mature enough. But, I think by the time it’s obvious it might be already too late. So, I We would ask the industry to not to necessarily immediately adapt to smart technology (because it’s already been adapting) but to adapt faster to the ongoing digital transformation and keep an open mind to innovations (or disruptions) coming from other industries.
The industry as a whole must become more open. Many dysfunctionalities stem from the fact that actors do not share data and best practices for the benefit of others. Our target is to create awareness first from the inside, from a shipping company point of view. We believe that digital tools should create transparency between departments so that energy efficiency actions can be taken together.
You may cast your vote for Eniram at 2019 SMART4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 21st of December 2018!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
