SEEMP is intended to to assist the industry in managing the environmental performance of ships and being a practical means for improving operational efficiencies. Done properly it should significantly reduce fuel consumption.

SEEMP - what exactly is it?

IMO - MEPC.213 (63) Guidance for the Development of a SEEMP recognizes that operational efficiencies will make an invaluable contribution to reducing global carbon emissions. Its main purpose is to establish a mechanism for a company and/or a ship to improve the energy efficiency of a ship’s operation that is preferably linked to a broader corporate energy management policy. The SEEMP is to be customized to characteristics and needs of individual companies and ships.

The IMO guideline itself can be found at the IMO website www.imo.org. Please note that this will be updated over the coming 12-months or more, and whilst it is not expected to change too much, it will be modified. Always check the IMO website for the latest version.

DNV would like to companies should use the requirements for a SEEMP as an opportunity to improve energy efficiency in the companies. SEEMP should be more than a compliance-exercise, it should be a plan that leads to reduced fuel consumption and lower costs and emissions for every ship and every company.

Four steps to success

• Step 1 – Establish a baseline It is important to examine data, tools and processes in order to determine a credible baseline from which goals, plans and actions all grow
• Step 2 – Identify improvement potential Identify how much you can save and just as importantly, what initiatives you need to undertake to realize the improvements
• Step 3 – Implement and monitor Put the plan into action and track performance using a variety of established systems / processes to help overcome resistance to ‘new’ initiatives

• Step 4 – Evaluate and update The progress of the different improvement initiatives should be regularly followed up by the responsible persons / department with the assessment of performance used to modify future goals and implementation tactics

The DNV guideline (see sidebar) gives recommendations from DNV on how companies can develop SEEMP themselves. DNV is also actively engaged in assisting companies developing SEEMPs, ensuring they use the opportunity to produce a SEEMP that will lead to reduced fuel consumption.