The shipping industry is navigating a complex path towards decarbonisation, with future fuels at the heart of this transformation. But as shipowners plan their route, misconceptions around energy efficiency technologies (EETs) remain widespread. Addressing these misconceptions now can significantly smooth the industry's transition to sustainable, alternative fuels. Here’s how:
"The biggest misconception is that onboard systems and installed technologies are operated exactly as designed," says Saurabh Kumar, Head of Operations at Njord. Many shipowners mistakenly assume vessels and their installed EETs perform precisely as intended. However, significant gaps often exist between expected and actual performance due to inconsistent crew practices, improper usage, lack of familiarity with the technologies, and variable environmental conditions. Saurabh further explains, "The crew becomes a very key component of the full emission system. Preparing the crew today ensures future efficiency technologies will be effectively utilised."
Example: A vessel fitted with VFDs, Lube oil filter units or novel technologies like WAPS installation may not achieve anticipated savings if crews neglect regular maintenance, deviate from recommended operating speeds, or lack proper training on managing these technologies.
Solution: Regular crew training specifically focused on energy-saving technologies, continuous performance monitoring, and structured feedback loops ensure ships and their EETs operate closer to intended efficiency levels, reducing unnecessary fuel use and emissions. Cultivating a proactive crew attitude toward energy efficiency today significantly boosts long-term operational performance.
Why it matters for future fuels:
Future fuels, such as ammonia or methanol, will be more expensive and less energy-dense than current fuels. Additionally, the industry is increasingly shifting towards evaluating the full-lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of these potential future fuels, making some options less attractive. Ships and installed EETs operating below designed efficiency standards will magnify inefficiencies when transitioning to these new fuels. Ensuring optimal use of current efficiency technologies today can significantly lower future energy requirements, simplifying the transition and reducing associated costs.
"Shipowners often fear that efficiency requires a huge upfront investment," notes Saurabh. "In reality, you can begin with smaller, incremental upgrades that deliver immediate returns." Many shipowners perceive energy efficiency measures as expensive, time-intensive projects demanding substantial upfront capital, overlooking the potential for gradual and manageable investment strategies.
Example: Implementing incremental solutions like hull optimisation, engine tuning, fouling management, and propeller modifications can yield immediate fuel savings without large upfront costs.
Solution: Start with targeted, lower-cost efficiency technologies and reinvest savings into further improvements, creating a financially sustainable pathway toward greater overall efficiency.
Why it matters for future fuels:
Addressing this misconception encourages incremental, manageable investments today. Each efficiency improvement made now reduces the total amount of alternative fuel required later. Lower overall fuel demand means smaller tanks, less complex fuel systems, and reduced costs associated with retrofitting vessels to accommodate new fuels.
"People add costs and savings separately for each technology and often miss the bigger picture," explains Saurabh. "The real value emerges when multiple technologies work together as an integrated solution." Evaluating energy-saving technologies individually can lead shipowners to inflated cost perceptions and underestimated cumulative benefits.
Example: Evaluating hull coatings, engine tuning, and hydrodynamic retrofits individually overlooks their cumulative, synergistic effects, potentially leading to missed opportunities for substantial savings.
Solution: Adopt a holistic approach by combining compatible efficiency technologies in integrated packages that clearly demonstrate compounded savings and accelerated return on investment.
Why it matters for future fuels:
Future fuels will demand an integrated, optimised vessel environment to be commercially viable. Evaluating efficiency solutions holistically today - such as combining hull optimisation with engine and propeller upgrades - creates synergies that significantly multiply fuel savings. These compounded efficiencies will be crucial in offsetting the higher cost and lower energy density of future fuels.
"There's a misconception that energy efficiency technologies take a long time to pay back," explains Saurabh. "In reality, many solutions available today deliver rapid returns and significant immediate savings." While some novel technologies like Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) might have longer individual paybacks, combining these with more established technologies significantly improves the overall ROI. As recently discussed in our analysis on Optimising Wind-Assisted Propulsion, pairing advanced technologies with more traditional ones achieves attractive paybacks often under five years.
Example: Pairing WAPS with hull optimisation, fouling management, and engine tuning has demonstrated ROI periods below five years in real-world applications.
Solution: Combine high-ROI novel technologies with established efficiency improvements to achieve attractive average returns, as highlighted during our recent LinkedIn Live event on FuelEU Maritime and Wind-Assisted Propulsion. This balanced approach provides both immediate operational savings and longer-term strategic benefits.
Why it matters for future fuels:
Rapid ROI from balanced energy efficiency investments creates financial flexibility, helping shipowners quickly adapt to future fuel requirements. Reducing operational costs through strategic technology pairings today enables more confident and strategic investments in alternative fuels tomorrow.
Dispelling these misconceptions around energy efficiency allows shipowners to approach future fuels from a position of strength. Vessels that achieve peak efficiency today will transition more seamlessly and cost-effectively tomorrow, delivering lasting commercial and environmental advantages.
✅ Reach out to Njord for expert guidance on financial modelling, regulatory compliance, and seamless installation.
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