Mandatory benchmark for energy efficiency in ship operation a

“The business case for success in ship operation is solidly based on three quality pillars: safe operations, environmental performance and high energy efficiency. Mediocre results in any of these are not an option, particularly in the tanker sector,” said Rauta.

He said the “key to success is depending on the involvement of company’s top management who should ensure a professional phase-in process of new, safer and efficient innovative technology and operations”.

Noting the high prices of marine fuels have prompted significant efforts to improve energy efficiency through design, operations and through improvements of logistics, he contended the IMO regulation mandating a step wise increase energy efficiency of new buildings is welcomed.

“There were fears designing ships against one index will not improve efficiency in operations. Experience indicates newly delivered ships are indeed more efficient in operations,” he told the Shipping in the 21st Century conference in Athens.

Rauta agreed there is a lot to learn and to adjust so that the new generation of eco-ship becomes more efficient.

“It would be natural for IMO to prioritise monitoring of results from EEDI [Energy Efficiency Design Index] compliant ships and, based on actual data, seek opportunities for improvements on the next generation of new ships. Unfortunately, there are strong suggestions to divert the attention from newbuildings to ships in operations.

“There are proposals to develop mandatory operational efficiency standards for ships in operation.”

He said ships do monitor and report their fuel consumptions. “Ship operators use the variety of data reported to find ways to minimise ship’s fuel consumption. There would be no burden on ships to report

similar data to IMO on an annual aggregate basis, as suggested. However, to go a step further and impose a mandatory benchmark for energy efficiency in operation sounds like mission impossible.”

He called the belief there could be a scheme, or index which couldprovide a consistent and fair standard “as being naïve”.

“No ship’s voyage resembles the previous nor with the next voyage. For obvious reasons, sea trail results of sister ships are not identical. Ignoring such obvious reasons which are cemented into the complexity of ship’s operations dictated by the environment, by the nature of the cargo and by the legally imposed commercial obligations, is a key to inefficiency and maybe a key to serious negative impact on shipping at large,” he warned.

“Many of the existing ships are challenged by the new eco-ships, so there is no better incentive than all ships and ship operators seek to maximise efficiency.

“Fixing a number as a benchmark of annual fuel consumption based on distance travelled or based on service hours or even cargo carried, may add nothing to the strong commercial incentives to improve efficiency but may bring large complications in enforcement and control of such provisions,” said Intertanko’s technical director.

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Mandatory benchmark for energy efficiency in ship operation a 'mission impossible'