The Low Carbon Shipping – A Systems Approach Final Report 2014 presents the key findings from each of the work packages of the LCS project that was funded by the Research Councils UK energy programme. The work undertaken in this project contributes towards an understanding of what the possible future trajectories of the industry will mean to the shipping system and the ships that service future transport demand.
Operations for Low Carbon Shipping
Crew Awareness
A questionnaire was designed, distributed and analysed to identify the levels of seafarers’ awareness, knowledge, motivation and ideas about carbon emissions, their reduction, and methods for achieving energy efficiency on board. Key findings were:
- Only 20% of participants have learnt about carbon emissions and their effects via an education or training course and the most common sources for knowledge acquisition are not technical or focused: there are clear education and training needs;
- There is a lack of awareness and focus towards energy efficient operation and a lack of consistent knowledge about best practice;
- There is a clear correlation between how much participants know about carbon emissions and the energy efficient efforts they make, and so there is a real benefit in increasing knowledge;
- There is a lack of knowledge about how individuals can contribute towards energy efficiency improvements (however small) and/or responsibility shifting between individuals and departments;
- Improvements in onshore support for energy efficient ship operation are required in addition to improved operations by seafarers at sea;
- Performance monitoring and performance feedback of the right information to the right people is important for generating awareness and motivation.
Monitoring fuel consumption and ship performance
In order to understand the drivers of operational fuel consumption, noon-report data was collected from a number of ships and processed along with its key explanatory parameters (speed, time, weather). A key point identified by the analysis was the inaccuracy of some of the data fields and entries and hence their reliability to indicate ship performance. Reasons for the inaccuracies included human error, ambiguous observational methods and current procedures. The most significant data inaccuracies and absences relevant to performance monitoring are listed below.
- Fuel consumption
- Weather
- Draft and deadweight
- Power
Ship Hull and Propeller Maintenance
A review was made of existing procedures used for ship hull and propeller maintenance. At present most hull and propeller maintenance decisions are based on dry docking intervals, noted observations of significant performance loss and underwater inspections carried out by divers.
The amount and rate of fouling on hulls varies significantly with a ship’s operating profile and the type of hull coating used. The gain from hull cleaning and dry dock repairs varies greatly on the condition of the hull before maintenance and the quality of maintenance carried out. Performance monitoring and modelling needs to be incorporated and utilised as a tool for improving hull and propeller maintenance strategies. To identify practical optimal maintenance scheduling, the costs must also be considered, including the cost of maintenance and facilities, paint, hire, and so on.
Voyage Optimisation
There are many aspects to voyage optimisation that should be considered, and the practical and logistical components are just as significant as the performancerelated modelling.
The voyage optimisation framework studied in this project had two levels:
(1) voyage prediction and planning based on the operational profile, time of the year and the past weather statistics for the voyage dates; and
(2) real-time voyage optimisation and decision support system.
For the development of accurate voyage optimisation it is important that the ship’s operational profile is recorded accurately and appropriate modelling should be utilised in the performance predictions.
Furthermore, because voyage planning is affected by many factors, charter contracts need to ensure that the operational decisions and communication/relations between ship management, commercial departments and external stakeholder roles are clearly defined.
Further details may be found by reading the report (please click at image below)
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