Maersk Tankers uses vessels’ “digital twin” to slash emissions
Through the commercial management of more than 220 vessels, Maersk Tankers draws on vast amounts of data to optimise voyages and fuel consumption that helps shipowners reduce emissions, according to the company's release.
The more fuel a ship consumes, the more greenhouse gases it emits – and the higher the cost. By providing insight and energy consulting to shipowners who have placed their vessels in the company’s pools, Maersk Tankers helps them slash emissions and fuel costs.
Maersk Tankers is taking a holistic approach to help shipowners reduce CO2 emissions, tackling the problem from different fronts. Its fuel optimisation consulting ranges from the design assessment of ships before they join the pool, to close daily contact with technical managers and crews. There are also monthly insight sessions in which Pedersen and his team advise partners in taking the right decisions and actions to mitigate any excess fuel consumed.
The company is also pioneering digital solutions to reduce emissions in shipping, which complement the services offered by Pedersen and his team. These draw on the expertise of a team of data scientists and software developers led by Peter Schroder, Maersk Tankers' Chief Digital Officer. “Algorithms can execute tasks far more efficiently than a human brain,” he says, pointing to the company’s use of data from vessel reports and historical voyages, as well as external sources, such as the Automatic Identification System (AIS), and weather information.
Each vessel is different with its own potential for optimisation, based on factors that include its design, age, time since dry-docking and past trade history.
Added to this, the company is using Zero North’s digital solution Optimise throughout its entire managed fleet. Optimise is used when vessels are en route to their destinations to determine their optimal speed and route, thereby helping to cut fuel consumption.
When a partner entrusts a vessel to Maersk Tankers, the fuel optimisation team assesses vessel performance and continuously advises in taking actions to mitigate any excess fuel consumed.
Before a voyage is fixed, the ambition is that the voyage simulator will enable charterers to choose the vessel best suited for a given voyage.
After a voyage is fixed and when the vessel is en route, Optimise is used to determine the vessel’s optimal speed and route.
It is not few partners that have chosen to entrust their vessels to Maersk Tankers' commercial management and now benefit from its fuel optimisation and digital know-how. The company has more than 220 vessels under commercial management, which allows it to implement solutions across a large fleet, with a far-reaching impact.
