Socatra, provider of oil shipping services, and Syroco, Climate Tech startup unveiled performance data obtained from the first months of deployment of Syroco’s travel optimisation solution on M/T Alcyone.
Armed by Socatra and chartered by TotalEnergies, Alcyone is a 183-metre tanker sailing under French flag and operating on transpacific routes. Built in 2022, the ship was equipped at the beginning of 2024 with two Rotor Sails from manufacturer Norsepower.
Hector Firino Martell, Fleet Manager, Socatra, said that the use of Rotor Sails introduces complexity into voyage definition. The routing of Alcyone involves advanced calculations in order to make the most of the wind while taking into account waves, swell and currents.
The Syroco platform, thanks to its high fidelity digital twins and its simulation power, enables the crew to take advantage of the weather conditions, amplifying the efficiency of the propulsion systems.
…said Hector Firino Martell.
Furthermore, the Syroco platform provides data on the performance gains produced respectively by the use of the wind assistance and by adhesion to an optimised route.
This data, which varies from one voyage to another, makes it possible to evaluate the impact of these technologies in a global and objective manner and to calculate their return on investment.
In detail, the calculation of consumption gains, provided by the Syroco platform, indicates the following results:
- Gains produced by the effects of wind assistance: between 4% and 18%.
- Gains produced by the use of Syroco weather routing: between 3% and 18%.
- Aggregate gains (combination of the effects of wind assistance and the use of weather routing): between 5% and 21%.
- Furthermore, compared to the vessel’s previous operating periods, the shipowner was able to measure a reduction in fuel consumption of 50 tonnes per month on average. On a full year basis, this reduction translates into 1,800 tonnes of CO2 avoided per year.
These first months of using the Syroco platform on Alcyone have been very positive. We saw strong adoption of the solution by crews, and excellent adhesion to routing recommendations. We are proud to see that this use generates measurable and significant gains. The results presented today confirm the commitment of TotalEnergies, Socatra and the crew to more sustainable maritime transportation.
…said Alex Caizergues, President and Co-founder, Syroco.
