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Fuel Consumption

Fuelre4m: Difference between bunker fuel efficiency and efficiency of fuel

Rob Mortimer of Fuelre4m says instead of abandoning fossil-based bunker fuels prematurely in favour of less-proven technologies, the focus should be improving its efficiency with better measurements.
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Fuelre4m: Difference between bunker fuel efficiency and efficiency of fuel

Rob Mortimer, Managing Director of Dubai-based clean-fuel technology firm Fuelre4m, shared an article with Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times detailing how the measurement of bunker fuel consumption can affect how true efficiency of fuel is measured:

My background is in telecoms, data, and radio communication, where everything from speed to capacity is logical, measurable, and provable. However, venturing into the world of combustion engines and renewable-based hybrid generator sets was an eye-opener. Unlike the precise measurements in telecoms, the shipping industry still measures fuel consumption in liters and gallons, ignoring the crucial fact that fuel is consumed in weight. This disparity affects how we measure the true efficiency of fuel.

In shipping, operators have advanced in measuring vessel performance with technology, yet they still overlook the efficiency of the fuel itself. The industry commonly uses Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) to measure fuel usage per unit of energy produced. SFOC is calculated as the mass of fuel consumed per hour divided by the engine’s power output during that period. While this metric has been used for decades, it doesn’t account for the varying quality of fuels.

For instance, a 1% variation in fuel quality, seemingly negligible, can have a significant impact when burning 600 metric tonnes (mt) of fuel per month. Over a year, this 1% difference equates to 72mt of fuel, which, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), translates to 226mt of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. The assumption that one metric tonne of fuel will always produce the same power, regardless of slight quality differences, is flawed.

The problem is rooted in using SFOC as an average reference for engine performance, not fuel performance. Engine manufacturers provide data based on ideal conditions with a specified fuel quality. These numbers are then normalized and used as averages for future calculations, overlooking the variations in fuel quality from bunker to bunker.

It’s akin to assuming that fuel from different gas stations is identical, when in reality, it can vary significantly due to factors like mixing, contamination, and aging.

The key issue with SFOC is that it doesn’t account for the fact that different fuels, even of the same type, have varying energy densities. For example, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) has an energy density of 40-42 MJ/kg, while Methanol has only 21-23 MJ/kg. This variance can be as much as 5-6% within the same fuel type, leading to substantial differences in power output and fuel efficiency.

To accurately measure fuel efficiency, we need to consider the mass of fuel in relation to the power it produces. This requires precise measuring equipment, such as torque or shaft power meters. These devices don’t directly measure torque but instead gauge minute changes in the propeller shaft as it twists with varying forces. By calibrating these meters to account for the quality of the fuel, we can more accurately assess the energy released and adjust power readings accordingly.

Power cards, another essential tool, allow engineers to evaluate the combustion process and measure cylinder power output. These measurements can then be used to fine-tune the torque meter readings, ensuring that they reflect the true efficiency of the fuel being used. This method moves us beyond relying solely on the engine’s power rating and towards a more scientific approach to evaluating fuel performance.

The recent drive towards alternative fuels, spurred by the global push to reduce fossil fuel consumption, has highlighted the need for a balanced approach. While alternatives like biofuels and LNG have their place, they often come with challenges and trade-offs. For example, biofuels have lower energy densities, requiring more fuel to produce the same power and potentially increasing emissions. Dual-fuel engines, designed to switch between traditional and alternative fuels, can be complex and problematic in operation.

The reality is that fossil fuels will remain a significant part of the energy mix for the foreseeable future. Rather than abandoning them prematurely in favor of less-proven technologies, the focus should be on optimizing the fuels we currently use. By improving the efficiency of fossil fuels through better measurement and treatment, we can achieve significant environmental benefits without the risks associated with untested alternatives.

Fuelre4m is at the forefront of this optimization effort with its Re4mx fuel reformulator technology. This technology conditions fossil fuels pre-combustion, enhancing atomization and energy release while reducing particulate matter and pollutants. Coupled with advanced measuring tools like mass flow meters, torque, and power meters, Fuelre4m offers a comprehensive system for improving fuel efficiency and reporting, helping ships achieve IMO emissions targets without incurring additional costs.

 

Photo credit: Fuelre4m
Published: 11 September, 2024

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Technology

Avikus and ZeroNorth team up on joint solution to improve ship efficiency, cut bunker fuel use

Avikus’ Level 2 autonomous navigation system will be combined with ZeroNorth’s voyage and vessel optimisation platform enabling more efficient operations and reducing fuel use and emissions.

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June 5, 2025

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Avikus and ZeroNorth team up on joint solution to improve ship efficiency, cut bunker fuel use

Avikus, a subsidiary of HD Hyundai, and maritime technology company ZeroNorth on Wednesday (4 June) entered a strategic partnership to bring to market a joint solution that combines autonomous navigation with real-time voyage optimisation.

Avikus’ Level 2 autonomous navigation system will be combined with ZeroNorth’s voyage and vessel optimisation platform to help shipping overcome unprecedented pressure to operate more efficiently, cut emissions, and improve safety.

Using real-time data on weather, fuel consumption, and navigation instructions, the integrated system can automatically adjust the vessel’s speed and route and improve safety with smart collision avoidance. 

This dynamic, self- adjusting capability goes beyond what either autonomous navigation or optimisation tools can achieve alone, enabling more efficient operations, reducing fuel use and emissions, and easing the burden on crews. The solution also enhances ship-to-shore connectivity, giving both onboard crew and shoreside operators greater transparency and decision support.

Offered for both newbuilds and retrofits, the solution will help ships operate more efficiently and safely today, while supporting the industry’s gradual shift toward greater autonomy. To date, Avikus has equipped more than 350 vessels globally with its navigation assistance technology, while ZeroNorth’s optimisation platform is used on over 5,500 vessels – reflecting growing demand for AI-driven solutions that improve safety, and efficiency.

The agreement was signed during Nor-Shipping by Dohyeong Lim, CEO of Avikus, and Søren C. Meyer, CEO of ZeroNorth. A pilot of the integrated system will be launched as the next step in the collaboration.

Dohyeong Lim, CEO of Avikus, said: “This landmark partnership between two global leaders – one in maritime technology and the other in shipbuilding – marks a pivotal step in the evolution of maritime autonomy. By combining our strengths in optimal voyage planning and autonomous navigation, we are extending the reach of AI revolution from land to sea. We believe this collaboration will serve as a catalyst for reshaping the industry, setting new standards for both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.”

Søren C. Meyer, CEO of ZeroNorth, said: “Maritime autonomy represents the next frontier for our industry – much like autonomous driving is transforming mobility on land. By partnering with Avikus, a leader in maritime autonomy, we combine autonomous navigation technology with our optimisation and data expertise. This partnership can close the gap between the optimal voyage plans that digital tools can create and the real-world execution on board – improving both safety and efficiency.”

 

Photo credit: ZeroNorth
Published: 5 June, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

MSI: IMO midterm measures to add 80% premium to bunker costs by 2035

IMO’s penalties would be equivalent to an 82% premium on top of the fleet bunker costs by 2035 – almost USD 100 billion for the 30,000 ships included in Maritime Strategies International’s database.
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May 8, 2025

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MSI: IMO midterm measures to add 80% premium to bunker costs by 2035

Maritime and energy research provider Maritime Strategies International (MSI) on Wednesday (7 May) said analysis performed by MSI using data from its new platform has given an early indication of the impact that the IMO’s recently agreed Net Zero Framework will have on the bunker market.

By extending the annual fuel consumption estimates calculated in SEASCAPE platform for 2024 through to 2035, and applying MSI’s forecasts for bunker prices, MSI projected the future fuel costs for all conventionally-fuelled ships included in the platform, which is just over 30,000 ships, alongside the projected IMO penalties.

“This provides some indication of the scale: by this approach, the IMO’s penalties would be equivalent to an 82% premium on top of the fleet bunker costs by 2035 – almost USD 100 billion for the ships included,” it said. 

From another perspective, this also highlighted the opportunity for the shipping bunker market – an annual pot directed towards drop-in biofuels and low carbon alternatives that could rise to USD 100 billion per year within the next decade.

MSI SEASCAPE is designed to complement MSI products which offer a forward view of the market by providing a complete retrospective, 12-month view on the global fleet. Hourly data on vessel activity provides vessel speed, direction, emissions, fuel consumption, port time and anchorage durations.

MSI uses machine learning to identify changes in voyage patterns and ship clusters, developing an algorithm to measure vessel tracks, speed and port stays to generate emissions data where AIS satellite tracks were not available. Each month, MSI’s algorithm generates data for over two million ‘dark periods’ where AIS signals are absent.

Users can extract data by ship, by fleet or sections of the global fleet, filtering by vessel type, characteristics or IMO number. The product is being made available at flexible subscription levels allowing users to start with the data they require most and add additional sectors as their needs evolve.

“MSI has invested two years in SEASCAPE’s development, driven by demand from customers for improved modelling of fleet behaviour at a time when fleet inefficiencies and diversions are impacting earnings and values far in excess of historical norms,” said Will Fray, Director, MSI. 

“The platform can also be used for due diligence prior to vessel acquisition/lending or charter, to track fleet or vessel behaviour and compare against cohorts and competitors.”

 

Photo credit: Maritime Strategies International
Published: 8 May, 2025

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Technology

TotalEnergies adopts LR OneOcean tech to cut fuel consumption across fleet

In a trial of Route Optimisation solution prior to full adoption, TotalEnergies has saved 725 metric tonnes of bunker fuel and 2256 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions across its chartered fleet to date.
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2 months ago

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May 6, 2025

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RESIZED Chris Pagan

Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LR OneOcean) on Friday (2 May) said it has collaborated with global multi-energy company TotalEnergies to deploy advanced route optimisation technology across its shipping operations.

TotalEnergies has adopted LR OneOcean’s Route Optimisation solution, which combines expert master mariner oversight with sophisticated machine learning fuel modelling and hull analysis capabilities.

The Route Optimisation solution harnesses the power of both the Lloyd’s Register OneOcean Platform and its Vessel Operations team to grant visibility into the performance of each vessel. The solution collects and analyses high-frequency vessel data and noon-reported data to create accurate fuel consumption models. 

By combining these models with accurate insights of route optimisation from the Vessel Operation team, the system can precisely simulate and improve fuel efficiency for any given voyage. These insights help TotalEnergies make better operational decisions, leading to fuel savings and reduced emissions across its fleet.

Initial results demonstrate significant benefits. In a trial of the Route Optimisation solution prior to full adoption, TotalEnergies has saved 725 metric tonnes of marine fuel and 2256 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions across its chartered fleet to date.

Jeff Mattick, Customer Success Director for LR OneOcean, said: “LR OneOcean, an industry leader of route optimisation and machine learning technology, has delivered significant benefits to our customers for over a decade by continuously innovating to bring value to our customers. 

“We are pleased to welcome TotalEnergies to our family and look forward to optimising commercial outcomes, improving reliability, and reducing emissions with our advanced technology.”

Sebastien Roche, General Manager Shipping Performance and Innovation of TotalEnergies, said: “We are thrilled to integrate LR OneOcean route optimisation to enhance our chartered fleet’s voyage.

“This technology, combined with 24/7 advisory support, immediately and sustainably reduces fuel consumption and emissions, minimising the environmental footprint of our shipping activities. LR OneOcean’s close collaboration with shipping operators and crew ensures seamless adoption.”

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 6 May, 2025

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