Why do an aging fleet and tightening environmental regulations present a golden opportunity for the operators of small merchant vessels? This article explores three interesting considerations where smart decisions can boost your sustainability and profitability – along with real-life cases showing how Wärtsilä can help.
As the short sea shipping industry faces stricter emissions regulations and rising fuels costs, operators are looking for ways to make their vessels and operations more sustainable. Do you own or operate a small merchant vessel such as a:
If you do, you are probably already asking yourself these three key questions:
In fact, these are the most common questions that Wärtsilä experts hear from customers every day. Let’s dive deeper into each one.
The less energy it takes to push your vessel through the water, the less engine power you need and the lower your fuel consumption and emissions will be. Energy saving technologies (ESTs) are solutions that help you maintain speed while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption.
In the short sea shipping sector, manoeuvrability and speed flexibility are top priorities, with small merchant vessels sailing relatively short routes and making frequent port calls. There are several ESTs available today that improve the hydrodynamic and propulsive efficiency of your vessel.
For example:
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Short sea shipping operators need to balance CAPEX and OPEX while securing future capabilities to comply with tightening regulations. While ESTs increase CAPEX, in the long run they reduce OPEX and improve profit margins by lowering fuel costs.
It’s also important to remember that some ESTs – like propeller caps – come with the added bonus of improved vessel manoeuvrability. This might open up access to new ports that have stricter emissions regulations and where vessel movements are more challenging.
Swedish company Furetank is one example of a short sea shipping operator that is incorporating ESTs into its newbuild projects. The company worked with Wärtsilä to install a range of energy-saving solutions, employing Wärtsilä’s OPTI Design approach to achieve optimal propulsion efficiency for their tanker Fure Viten.
Fure Viten is powered by a Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel main engine and has two Wärtsilä auxiliary engines with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce emissions. A backup battery can take over from the auxiliary engines when sailing through narrow channels.
The Fure Viten also has:
Sea trials have demonstrated that together these technologies have resulted in:
They have also virtually eliminated SOx and hazardous particulate matter emissions compared to the company’s previous-generation tankers. Critically, the Fure Viten has already surpassed the IMO’s 2050 emission targets.
Hybridised and electrified propulsion setups have better fuel-to-power conversion efficiency than the classic short sea shipping setup with a single main engine powering a fixed pitch propeller (FPP). Wärtsilä offers integrated hybrid and electric propulsion solutions designed to maximise efficiency and reduce emissions across a wide range of small merchant vessels. These solutions can give you a more sustainable vessel and a flexible foundation for the future.
A smart propulsion control system such as Wärtsilä EcoControl can vastly improve the fuel efficiency of your small merchant vessel during transit sailing. EcoControl finds the optimal propeller pitch and combines it with the optimal engine load. This reduces fuel consumption during transit sailing.
A hybrid propulsion system works by optimising the engine load based on the vessel speed and operating profile. Engines can be run at optimal load, where they are most efficient and generate the least emissions, while batteries absorb load fluctuations.
In a mechanical hybrid setup with a controllable pitch propeller (CPP), a gearbox and a shaft generator system, the main engine can be decoupled from the CPP. The vessel can then operate solely on zero-emission battery power when entering and exiting port.
With a power take-off/power take-in (PTO/PTI) gearbox, the shaft generator can reuse surplus engine power to charge the batteries (PTO) and provide a boost in propulsion power when needed (PTI). This significantly improves the vessel’s energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
Hybridised arrangement for short sea shipping
In a hybrid electric solution, multiple gensets provide propulsion and auxiliary power through a common electrical distribution system. Propulsion is provided by electric motors driving a FPP, enabling a highly flexible drive system.
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In today’s hybrid propulsion setups, batteries are accompanied by modern engines that are far more efficient than their predecessors.
The core engine power demand of the short sea shipping sector is in the 1–10 MW range. Wärtsilä’s fuel-flexible portfolio includes the Wärtsilä 25. This modular and future-proof solution makes it easier than ever for you to target net zero. The Wärtsilä 25 allows you to transition to alternative fuels simply by replacing selected engine components, which significantly shortens the overhaul time and reduces complexity.
Misje Eco Bulk is one example of a short sea shipping operator that is using hybrid propulsion to reduce fuel costs and lower emissions. The company is part of the Norway-based Misje Rederi group.
In 2020 Misje Eco Bulk commissioned three 5,000 dwt bulk carriers, each with a fully integrated Wärtsilä hybrid solution. The solution includes a battery-based energy storage system that eliminates the need to run the engines when in port, so cargo operations and port movements can be carried out emission free.
The first of these bulk carriers, the Misje Vita, was delivered in autumn 2022.
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You can decarbonise your short sea shipping fleet by adopting new energy sources that can give your operations a big sustainability and efficiency boost. For example, the ability to plug into shore power when in port eliminates the need to use auxiliary engines to cover your vessel’s hotel load.
For some vessels, consistent use of shore power can cut emissions and fuel costs by as much as 10% as well as reduce OPEX. The advantages are even greater when the power is generated from renewable sources like wind, solar or hydro.
Many ports are now investing in shore power infrastructure, and it will gradually become mandatory for vessels to use it. Decarbonising your port operations with shore power can also have a positive influence on your vessel’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating.
Your vessel’s CII rating is based on grams of CO2 emitted per cargo-carrying capacity per nautical mile travelled. Emitting CO2 in port while your vessel is not moving is particularly bad for its CII rating as this CO2 is not being offset by any miles travelled.
In terms of fuel as an energy source, alternative fuels like LNG, methanol, biodiesel and ammonia are on everyone’s radar.
Operators who are already using LNG as fuel are looking at ammonia with increasing interest. Ammonia is currently one of the most viable alternative fuels because of its well-established supply chain and the level of readiness of engine technology.
The Wärtsilä 25 is the first engine designed from the start to use ammonia as fuel. Wärtsilä can provide dedicated fuel storage and supply solutions and customised exhaust aftertreatment systems for operators who want to make the switch.
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In the short sea shipping segment, several operators are considering methanol as a viable option. Methanol burns with lower NOx, SOx and particulate emissions, is available in growing volumes and has the potential to be 100% renewable. Converting to methanol as a marine fuel is relatively straightforward if your vessel already runs on conventional liquid marine fuels.
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SAL Heavy Lift GmbH, a German heavy lift and project cargo specialist, has built four new heavy lift vessels with a hybrid propulsion system. The system, which includes methanol-ready Wärtsilä 32 main engines, minimises the vessels’ CO2 emissions.
The vessels are among the first that are ready to operate on methanol, as well as the first methanol-ready ships to employ a variable speed main engine in a hybrid installation. The system also includes an energy storage system (ESS) for controlling and optimising hybrid operations. This ESS brings several benefits:
“These ships represent the next generation in heavy lift shipping. In addition to their technical capabilities, they feature outstanding environmental performance and help guide shipping towards a greener future.
Another example of the benefits of dual-fuel engines comes from James Fisher and Sons plc. The company has partnered with Wärtsilä to upgrade its tanker fleet with four new 6,000 dwt LNG-fuelled tankers, featuring an integrated SCR system and fully integrated propulsion package with Wärtsilä ProTouch remote propulsion control system. The solutions centre around the Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel main engine and will play an important role in helping James Fisher achieve its long-term sustainability goals.
The engines will initially run on LNG and significantly reduce emissions for the company, but the Wärtsilä 25DF is modular and flexible enough to be updated to use another fuel when required. This makes it a future-proof choice that helps support the adoption of sustainable fuels.
Short sea shipping operators have several options available when charting a route to decarbonisation. Investing in energy-saving technologies, hybrid and electric propulsion solutions or new energy sources can all help cut vessel emissions and fuel use without compromising performance or profitability. A cleaner, smarter and more efficient future is now in reach for the short sea shipping sector – and Wärtsilä solutions can help you get there.
Learn more about newbuild and retrofit solutions to decarbonise short sea shipping and see how real vessels have benefitted from Wärtsilä solutions.
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