Hong-Kong based Wallem Ship Management shared best practices with respect to energy efficiency on ships, including energy saving systems onboard that reduce environmental footprint, as well as energy efficiency management, such as weather routing or trim optimization.
”As ship managers, we have been fortunate to have been trusted by our clients with a good number of new vessels. Most of these are state-of-the-art vessels equipped with the latest energy saving systems and devices. Since we have taken over these new vessels, we have been using these various systems onboard and to their absolute fullest potential, monitoring the results that we are getting from them.” Wallem Ship Management said.
Types of devices and systems
Energy saving devices fitted on Wallem’s managed vessels come in various shapes and forms. These include wake improvement ducts, pre-swirl vanes and propeller hub vortex fins. As for Energy saving systems, they have vessels with energy recovery systems, e.g. waste heat recovery systems such as the Auxiliary engine gas boiler that utilises the waste heat from the Auxiliary engine exhaust for steam production, which would otherwise require an oil fired boiler to be used. Doing this, Wallem reduces fuel and hence reduces the environmental impact through GHG and other emissions. Another widely used and efficient energy saving type of device is the Variable Frequency Drive that saves energy by automatically controlling motor speeds. These systems are used on equipment such as engine room ventilation fans and sea water pumps.
Energy savings in the fleet
Chief Engineer, Balijinder Singh shares his experience using energy saving systems onboard. He told to Wallem Ship Management:
“In my time aboard the ship, and through use of the ESS, I have witnessed auxiliary engine fuel oil consumption per day coming down from 4.2 MT to 3.3 MT – a fuel saving of 0.9 MT per day. This is a big plus for the owners / charterers and, of course, for the environment. At anchorage, aux engine no.1 or 2 is in operation so that exhaust gas heat can be used to produce steam and so donkey boiler fuel consumption reduces. Having a low temperature in the engine room then reduces the air flow rate requirement and so the ventilation fan, fitted with a Variable Frequency drive, runs at the lowest possible rpm which consumes 2kw per fan. Only one sea water pump operates at low load and there is an 80% energy saving.”
Many of Wallem’s vessels operated out of its Hamburg office have Becker Mewis Ducts fitted which, under the right conditions, can lead to energy savings of up to 8%, with lower SOx and CO2 emissions, which is beneficial to the environment.
Energy efficiency management
Apart from any Energy Saving Devices and systems fitted on board its vessels, Wallem recognises that it is also essential to carry out an overall energy efficiency management on board all its vessels in fleet.
”For example; we are always looking into voyage optimization with weather routing or trim optimization, we are looking into reduction of onboard power demand and we are taking every step to ensure that we keep the ship’s machinery in optimal condition.” Wallem further explained.
About Wallem
With over 110 years of experience and a network of 47 offices around the globe, the Wallem Group is one of the world’s largest and most experienced providers of maritime solutions offering services across Ship Management, Ship Agency, Commercial Management and Asset Protection, with an emphasis on safety, quality and operational efficiency.