Tallink Grupp has improved its fuel efficiency and cut emissions with a voyage optimisation tool that manages the entire voyage by calculating an optimum power plan and executing it automatically, with little or no manual intervention.
Qtagg’s EcoPilot system, which incorporates autonomous speed and power control as well as weather routing, has been installed on Tallink Grupp’s twin CP propeller cruise ferry Isabelle. The software controls the propulsion machinery to arrive on time at the lowest total cost.
“Reductions in fuel consumption and emissions are an important benefit for all shipping companies and EcoPilot has helped us achieve this,” said Indrek Lepp, Master of the Isabelle.
During more than 50 voyages during the summer, using EcoPilot has given a reduction of 7% in fuel consumption and emissions. These results were verified by sailing with the EcoPilot system operational and non-operational on alternate round trips.
EcoPilot connects the entire propulsion chain, so that normally independent systems work together to optimise the ship’s performance. The system offers route planning/optimisation and fuel efficiency monitoring, alongside onboard ship performance analysis and strategic planning.
The system reads data from sensors monitoring more than 60 parameters in real time, including engine performance, propeller performance, rudder lift and drag forces, ship motion and navigational information. Data from previous voyages together with weather and sea forecasts are used to minimize the total fuel consumption for each voyage.
Isabelle is usually deployed on a daily cruise service between Stockholm, Sweden and Riga, Latvia.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
