A simple rule has been identified to allow operators to reduce fuel wastage and emissions caused by a build up of hull fouling.
A new white paper by UK vessel performance optimisation software developer, GreenSteam, reveals that cleaning the vessel’s hull before it reaches a critical level of 10% fouling will result in fuel savings of around 40%.
The paper suggests taking a “proactive, condition-based strategy” to hull cleaning management using advanced analytics. It advises harnessing a predictive strategy using machine learning software, historical and live data that can be used to create a vessel performance model that is combined with environmental factors to build up a complete picture of hull fouling.
Cost benefits
The company’s studies showed that relying on periodic, scheduled hull cleaning is a costly approach for operators because the rate of fouling varied widely. Similarly, leaving fouling assessments to inspections is flawed because it provides only a snapshot in time and is reliant on the competence of the inspector.
Rather than rely on these methods, GreenSteam has created a machine learning platform with SMART push notifications that allow vessel operators to optimise hull cleaning by setting limits which trigger automatic alerts when thresholds – such as the 10% marker when fouling moves from simple slime growth to the more serious issue of firmly bonded marine organisms…
