During the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Hamburg Forum, Jori Poikola, Sales Director, NAPA Shipping Solutions emphasized the crucial role of weather routing for vessels utilizing wind assistance and exploring the significant impact weather routing has on vessel performance.
A weather routing is a must for wind propulsion ships. In NAPA, we have over six years of experience inthis field. We have been working with different wind propulsion equipment makers, as well as a number of shipping companies. Also, we have been doing voyage simulation studies before and during the concept phase of designing the ship.
Before installation – Better planning
- Selection of device and its specification
- ROI prediction (Fuel saving & CO2 reduction v.s. Investment)
After installation – Verifying and Improving
- Actual Fuel saving, CO2 reduction and ROI analysis
- Achieve more savings through Voyage Optimization
Inputs of NAPA’s voyage simulation studies
- Ship’s performance model (Digital Twin)
- Operational conditions
- Voyage plan
- Wind-propulsion device characteristics
Optimizing for profit, CII score, or fuel consumption might yield very different results. In that regard, understanding the sensitivity of the outcome to the different decisions is crucial.
Furthermore, it is vital to provide support for commercial and technical decision-making in the concept/ design phase, and when in operation, it is important to verify performance and further improvement by Voyage Optimization software.
During the operational phase, there is a tool on both the vessel and ashore, to do the weather routing and get everything out from the wind propulsion. It can be applied to vessels with propulsion devices.
Last year, we conducted a study together with the Sumitomo Heavy Industries from Japan, one of the biggest Japanese shipyards as well as Norsepower, a leading wind propulsion maker, analyzing six different routes around the world and four different cases. In particular, our recent joint simulation project about “NAPA’s virtual Voyage Simulation of Wind Assisted Ships in Design Phase’’ analyzes the benefits of combining wind propulsion with voyage optimization to deliver maximum CO2 emissions reduction potential.
The study also explored how to predict vessel performance at the design stage, testing how the ship could handle varying sea and weather conditions. The joint simulation project leveraged insights from NAPA’s ship performance model and its voyage simulation tools, NAPA Voyage Optimization. Using nowcast weather data from 2022 and specifications provided by Norsepower and SHI-ME, the digital twins developed by NAPA were able to simulate the performance of the tankers in selected sea areas.
Simulation was done for the voyages that depart on the 1st and 15th of every month in 2022. Constant RPM was maintained during a voyage while there was a maximum wave height 12m as safety constraints. Wind chart comparison found that there were greater savings gained from combining rotor sails with NAPA Voyage Optimization and more favorable side wind conditions.
As NAPA, we believe that this approach, virtual voyage simulation of energy saving device to verify CO2 saving potential at the design phase, will enhance the decarbonization in the maritime industry one step further.
The joint simulation project leveraged insights from NAPA’s ship performance model and its voyage simulation tools, as well as Norsepower’s actual performance data. Using nowcast weather data from 2022 and specifications provided by Norsepower and SHI-ME, the digital twins developed by NAPA were able to simulate the performance of the tankers in selected sea areas. The study showcased the need for energy-efficient practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that we can improve operational efficiency by optimizing route and speed profiles for any sea passage.
Key figures
-28% emissions reduction in the New York – Amsterdam route, the combined reduction. Rotor sails estimated contribution was 16%.
-19% emissions reduction in all six routes, the combined reduction. Rotor sails estimated contribution was 9%.
In conclusion, optimal weather routing is really a must for wind propulsion ships. That also links to the data-driven ship design, which is a crucial step for the business and technical verification, when doing this ship design. Furthermore, understanding the vessel’s technical and naval architectural aspects is key to operational optimization and competitiveness of your fleet. In that regard, ship owners and operators need to ensure they have the best weather on their route for decarbonization!
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
Explore more by watching the video presentation here below
The above article is a transcript from Jori Poikola’s presentation during the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Hamburg Forum with minor edits for clarification purposes.
