Stena Bulk saves SEK 65 million with efficiency-enhancing measures
At the beginning of this year, Stena Bulk initiated a project where traditional energy efficiency and reduced bunker fuel consumption were expanded by the addition of increased efficiency from a more commercial and operational perspective. The relationship between freight and bunker fuel will be maximised still further. Enhancing efficiency will also lower the environmental impact by reducing sulphur oxide emissions by around 1,400 metric tons in 2013, said in the company's press release.
Half of the SEK 65 million in savings on an annual basis is considered to be related to technology and half to commercial and operational measures.
“We have always been at the cutting edge when it comes to technological developments, but now we have also succeeded in achieving operational excellence, which is having a major impact. We are delighted to see that our ambitious project for increasing energy efficiency, where we are working with a specific energy budget for each vessel and voyage, has had immediate and very positive results”, says Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk.
Stena has long been known for its innovative ship designs and its utilisation of the latest technology to improve energy efficiency and reduce bunker fuel consumption.
Today, the company operates an extremely modern fleet where the performance of the new Suezmax tankers is the best in their class. Compared with vessels of the same type built only 2-3 years ago, bunker fuel consumption is 25 percent lower and compared with older tonnage from the end of the 1990s, it is as much as 40 percent lower.
Energy Management Project
The higher efficiency is mainly due to the vessels spending more of their time sailing at optimum speed, which is defined as being the most efficient speed for each individual vessel and voyage during the current fuel and freight market conditions. This has been achieved primarily by means of an energy budget for each vessel and voyage, which in turn has made it possible to monitor performance more efficiently and in greater detail together with ship optimisation and increased awareness on board.
With offices in six countries, Stena Bulk is one of the world’s leading tanker shipping companies. The company controls a combined fleet of around 100 tankers. Stena Bulk is part of the Stena Sphere, which has more than 20,000 employees and sales of SEK 60 billion.
