Page 228 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

FLEET OPTIMISATION

We have discovered that there Do you believe that larger companies have
is much that can be done in this an advantage in implementing fleet optimi-
direction without a prohibitive sation strategies?
investment cost. After studying Operational optimisation measures
the energy upgrade of our existing are easy to implement, although
fleet very carefully, we initiated the they do not deliver the desired
optimisation process by improving result as easily. Weather optimisa-
the environmental profile of those tion systems and low or high-fre-
ships whose specifications and quency data collection tools are
age could guarantee investment now widely available in the market
payback in a reasonable time. The and are affordable, efficient, and
standard energy upgrade we fol- accessible to all companies. In
lowed consists of pre-swirl ducts, contrast, technological measures
propeller boss cap fins, and low usually require demanding pro-
friction coatings, either simultane- ject management and high capital
ously or in combinations. We then expenditure and, therefore, may be
decided on the proper combination more challenging for smaller com-
of energy-saving devices based on panies to undertake.
the results of ship-specific Compu- In addition, investing in new con-
tational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) stud- structions with high technological
ies that indicated the energy-saving standards requires high capital for
level of each ship. In some cases, both their purchase and mainte-
we confirmed the CFD results with nance and may not be an option
dedicated sea trials that were car- for all companies. In this light, it
ried out after the retrofitting com- may be more difficult for compa-
I expect that the pletion. To our great satisfaction, nies with smaller fleets, and thus
future will bring our fleet retrofitting programme less capital, to make large financial
more groundbreaking with energy-saving technologies openings and renew or upgrade
developments in shipping’s has proven to be an added value, their fleet to a great extent quickly.
digitalisation. being highly effective throughout Fortunately, there are currently
the ships’ operations since then. many financing options for new
Furthermore, during the last six technologies, offering flexibility and
years, we have renewed our fleet serving the needs of a wide range
with eco-design vessels con- of ship managers.
structed in high-quality shipyards.
Since 2018, 17 tankers, 6 bulk car- How can shipping capitalise on AI? Are
riers, and 7 LNG carriers have been there any specific applications particularly
delivered, all of which are eco-de- relevant to fleet optimisation?
signs. AI has many applications in ship-
Regarding the adaptability of our ping, primarily in the analysis of
people, the upgrading of our fleet large amounts of data. As digitisa-
and our day-to-day office oper- tion within the industry develops,
ations is taking place at a pace the volume of data to be moni-
serving assimilation and adapta- tored grows, making information
tion. Crews have been extremely management and analysis difficult
responsive to the use and opera- and demanding. Shipping profes-
tion of new technologies, and their sionals are familiar with the diffi-
training has certainly helped a lot culty of making decisions utilising
in this direction. large amounts of information from
Of course, an adjustment period is different sources. In this context,
necessary, and there may be some artificial intelligence plays a pri-
resistance to new developments. mary role.
However, I have personally found AI can be applied to automation
that, over time, the human element and real-time analytics, simul-
has proven helpful rather than taneously analysing various fac-
obstructive in our efforts towards tors to propose the optimum
energy efficiency. result. Voyage optimisation, risk

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