Data partnership makes clean sweep to target hidden drag

At the heart of the commercial agreement is VESPER, a decision-support and benchmarking platform developed by Vessel Performance Solutions, also a company within the GTT Group, like Danelec.

VESPER analyses vessel performance data in real time to detect efficiency losses and early signs of hull or propeller fouling. Under the agreement, VESPER will be kept automatically updated with inspection and cleaning events logged through CleanQuote.

For ship operators, keeping hulls clean carries significant financial and regulatory consequences. Fouling increases hydrodynamic drag, raising fuel consumption and emissions, which in turn drives up costs and risks non-compliance with tightening environmental rules. Early intervention, guided by accurate performance data, allows operators to act before deterioration becomes serious.

CleanQuote gives operators access to vetted service providers, consolidating port-specific regulations, approved cleaning methods, supplier capabilities and pricing data to help fleet managers evaluate their options quickly and procure work with confidence.

The cooperation is framed around the difficulty operators currently face in bridging performance monitoring and operational response — identifying that a hull needs attention is one problem; knowing where to get it cleaned, under which regulatory conditions and at what cost is another.

“Our goal with VESPER is to give operators precise clarity on when fouling begins to impact performance, well before it becomes a costly problem,” said Jakob Buus Petersen, product director for Performance at Vessel Performance Solutions. “This collaboration ensures VESPER is automatically kept up to date with the latest inspection and cleaning events, leading to well-timed, well-justified decisions about underwater intervention.”

Mads Porsborg, managing director at CleanQuote, said the pace of regulatory change was the backdrop for the deal.

“Hull-cleaning regulations are evolving rapidly across the globe, and CleanQuote’s role is to take away that complexity from fleet performance and operations teams,” he said.

Danelec is based in Denmark and serves more than 17,000 vessels globally through the GTT Group’s Digital Division.