Anemoi Marine Technologies, a UK-based Rotor Sail developer, on Tuesday (10 September) said it was awarded a Type Approval Design Certificate from classification society DNV for its Rotor Sail design measuring 5 metres in diameter and 35 metres in height. 

The Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) was retrospectively presented to Anemoi during a special ceremony at SMM in Hamburg, Germany, on 5 September 2024. 

The certificate validates that Anemoi's 5x35m Rotor Sail design complies with DNV's technical standard (ST-0511) for Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) .

Kim Diederichsen, CEO of Anemoi, said: "We are delighted to have received this important Type Approval from DNV, which is a testament to the rigorous design and engineering work undertaken by our team.”

“This certification provides shipowners and operators with the assurance they need to invest in our 5x35m Rotor Sail solution, which has already been selected for upcoming installations on several vessels."

Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV Maritime, said: “Over the last few years WAPS technologies have continued to go from strength to strength, with the number of installations tripling in just the last year according to estimates from the IWSA.”

“This growth has been built on innovation, safety, and trusted expertise. We are very pleased to build on the excellent collaboration with Anemoi with the presentation of this certificate.”

“Together we are continuing to develop the technical standards and class notations that will enable the momentum behind WAPS to continue to build and enhance shipping’s drive to greater sustainability.”

In May 2024, Anemoi's 5x35m Rotor Sail was installed on the DNV-classed bulk carrier Berge Neblina, owned by Berge Bulk, representing the first commercial deployment of this product size. 

Anemoi has also previously obtained a full Statement of Design Appraisal for the 5x35m Rotor Sail, and has additional installations planned for later this year and into 2025, including on the Sohar Max, a 400,000 DWT VLOC operated by Vale.

Rotor Sails, also referred to as ‘Flettner Rotors’, are vertical cylinders that, when driven to rotate, harness the renewable power of the wind to propel ships. These highly efficient mechanical sails capitalise on the aerodynamic phenomenon known as the Magnus Effect to provide additional thrust to vessels. 

By leveraging wind energy, Berge Neblina will see increased efficiency by reducing the power required from the main engine while maintaining speed, therefore substantially reducing fuel consumption and resulting in less greenhouse gas emissions.

The technology is being increasingly embraced by ship owners, primarily in the bulker and tanker sectors, who are aiming to achieve net-zero shipping emissions. 

Rotor Sails have emerged as a preferred technology to augment and enhance the energy performance of vessels. Rotor Sails are a compact technology, which offer a large thrust force to propel ships with minimal impact on visibility, stability and port operations, helping them comply with pivotal international emission reduction benchmarks such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and EEDI/EEXI.

 

Photo credit: Anemoi
Published: 11 September, 2024

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

Classification society DNV on Thursday (5 September) has unveiled an upgrade to its emissions data verification and data management platform, Emissions Connect, which will enable the maritime sector to handle the commercial challenges and risks that come with the implementation of FuelEU Maritime. 

The update comes at a crucial time as the industry is grappling with the requirements that take effect from 1 January 2025.

Emissions Connect was first launched in 2023 to support the industry with the operational impact of multiple regulatory requirements and decarbonization trajectories. Specifically it helps the industry manage and control Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) performance, manage the commercial obligations arising from the European Union’s (EU’s) Emissions Trading System (ETS) and now also the implicatons of FuelEU Maritime.

Pål Lande, Product Line Director, DNV Maritime, said: “The introduction of new regulation to drive decarbonization is creating a complex environment for organizations across the shipping sector. To assist companies in dealing with this change, we are pleased to be offering a solution that will help them manage the commercial impact of these new rules and collaborate across the supply chain. Accurate and verified data is crucial to instil trust and ensure effective collaboration within this complex environment.” 

FuelEU Maritime sets limits on the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels used by ships calling at EU ports and progressively reduces these levels towards 2050. 

The regulation covers well-to-wake emissions from the entire fuel life cycle and requires ship managers to submit a monitoring plan, report emissions data annually and have their compliance balance verified. GHG intensity which is too high can lead to a negative balance, which, if not compensated in a pool with other ships, will trigger a penalty that the shipping company must pay to the national authorities.

To manage these challenges, the new update allows users to:

• Gain an overview of the GHG intensity of vessels in a fleet, the cumulative compliance balance and penalty cost per vessel, where applicable
• Evaluate different vessel pool set-ups by creating different fleets to explore the most suitable options for FuelEU Maritime management
• Track an individual ship’s performance by viewing basic vessel data, information on the GHG intensity of energy within the scope of FuelEU Maritime, and the compliance balance and corresponding penalty cost, if applicable
• Create verified emissions statements on voyage and custom period level

Built on the Veracity Data Workbench that supports customers with a strong emissions data management solution, Emissions Connect offers a high-quality emissions data baseline that is digitally verified.

High-quality emissions data provided by the shipowner is verified by DNV and shared with customers for self-service in settlement of transactions or other purposes such as reporting, exporting and secure sharing with partners and third parties, including banks and insurance companies adhering to the Poseidon Principles.

Note: Read more about Emissions connect here.

 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 6 September, 2024