In this issue: Fuel saving measures - Guideline, Return on investment tool, Practical example
Date: 2011-05-03
Cost of fuel
The cost of fuel is increasing. Although we will most probably see large fluctuations in the future, most indicators point towards even higher fuel prices in the long term. Fuel costs already make up a large percentage of ship owners’ operating costs, and this percentage will most likely grow in the future.
Guideline on fuel saving measures for bulk carriers
DNV presented MACC trend curves at Nor-Shipping two years ago. They showed a large fuel saving potential, which could be achieved by, for example, improving the hull and propeller design, using various fuel saving devices and optimising machinery and outfitting. To point out a great savings potential a is good start, but it must be followed up by providing the means to achieve change.
Scope of guideline
The guideline contains a detailed description of 14 different fuel saving measures, briefly described here. There are many other good candidates for fuel saving devices. This selection consists of popular ones intended to be representative of typical main categories.
How to use the guideline for fuel saving measures and the return on investment tool
In this article, we will illustrate the use of the SDARI-DNV Guideline for Fuel Saving Measures and the Return on Investment Tool by using an example. We will in the example assume the role of a technical manager in a typical ship owner organisation. It should be noted that the values used here have been selected to illustrate the process only, and reference is made to the guideline for further details.
Validation of fuel savings
The ship owner would like an accurate estimate of the fuel savings before deciding to purchase. After installation, it is valuable to know the actual savings.