SmartPropulsion: A Game Changer for Reducing Fuel & Ensuring Compliance

SmartPropulsion: A Fuel-Saving Solution for Ships

The shipping industry is facing new challenges. Ship owners and operators need to reduce fuel use and meet strict environmental rules. By 2050, ships must cut emissions to zero. But meeting these goals can be difficult. Many solutions are expensive, hard to install, and don’t always work as promised.

Ships not only have to meet today’s rules, but they also have to be ready for future changes. Rising fuel costs and new taxes on carbon make it even more important to save money. One solution that is helping ships meet these challenges is SmartPropulsion.

What is SmartPropulsion?

SmartPropulsion is a new technology that helps ships use less fuel. It was created by Emerson and Frugal Technologies. This system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to learn about the ship’s movements in real-time. SmartPropulsion can save ships up to 15% in fuel costs, depending on the type of propeller the ship uses.

With SmartPropulsion, ships can meet the environmental rules and save money at the same time. It helps improve a ship’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating, which is a measure of how clean a ship’s operations are. This means ships using SmartPropulsion are better prepared for the future.

Why SmartPropulsion is a Game Changer

SmartPropulsion is easy to install. It doesn’t need the ship to go to dry dock or stop working. It connects directly to the ship’s existing propulsion system. This reduces the cost of installing it, making it much cheaper than other energy-saving technologies.

It only takes three days to install SmartPropulsion. This means the ship can be back at work quickly, saving money almost right away. Most ships get back the money they spend on SmartPropulsion in just six months. Because the system is powered by software, it requires very little maintenance.

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How Does SmartPropulsion Work?

SmartPropulsion uses cloud technology to collect data from the ship’s operations. It learns over time, which means the system gets better at saving fuel the longer it is used. The data collected also helps ship operators spot problems early before they become expensive to fix.

Ships that have installed SmartPropulsion are already seeing the benefits. For example, Uni-Tankers installed SmartPropulsion on a chemical tanker and saved 12.2% in fuel costs. The company was so happy with the results that it installed SmartPropulsion on eight more ships.

Christiania Shipping has also seen big savings. Two of their tankers saw fuel savings of between 8% and 12%. After seeing these results, Christiania upgraded more of their ships, installing SmartPropulsion on eight ships with CPP propellers and four ships with FPP propellers. Even the older FPP ships saved between 2% and 4% in fuel costs.

A Smart Investment for Shipowners

Ships that use SmartPropulsion can save a lot of money. A container ship with FPP propellers can save around $4.5 million a year by using less fuel. The ship’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating will also improve. This is important as it helps ships meet environmental regulations.

With SmartPropulsion, ships can save money and reduce their impact on the environment. It’s a smart choice for shipowners who want to stay competitive while meeting the world’s green goals.

The Future of Shipping

Many ship operators would be happy with even a 1% improvement in fuel savings. SmartPropulsion can save up to 15%, depending on the ship. The system has low installation costs, reduces operating expenses, and helps meet new environmental rules.

As rules change, more technologies like SmartPropulsion will be developed. But for now, SmartPropulsion is proving to be a winning solution. We can expect to see it on many more ships in the future.