Shipowners Unaware of SEEMP Fuel Saving Potential

Over 50 shipowners completed the NAPA Group survey.

A survey conducted by ship design software house NAPA Group (NAPA) has shown shipowners are unaware of the fuel savings potential of implementing a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

According to the press release, the focus for most of the 50 plus shipowners who took part was to ensure compliance and maintaining a "business-as-usual" approach, rather than implementing a SEEMP with significant potential fuel savings.

NAPA also found a wide variation in preparedness for SEEMP, with 95 percent of the larger shipowners with 30 plus vessels saying they were "prepared" with the remaining 5 percent in final stages, whereas companies with 5 to 15 vessels had the lowest preparation rate at only 43 percent.

Smaller companies were also significantly less likely to be aware of a potential 15 to 20 percent fuel savings that could be achieved through an effective electronic SEEMP, according to NAPA.

"It is enormously positive to find that the industry is so prepared for the upcoming SEEMP regulation – however it is important to understand that in utilising electronic SEEMP and modern software solutions savings of as much as 20 percent can be achieved," commented Esa Henttinen, NAPA's Vice President of Business Development.

Other findings of the survey indicated European respondents were six times more likely to lack confidence in their own or their companies' understanding of SEEMP than their Asian counterparts, but Asia had the lowest regional levels of preparation at 69 percent.

North Americans said they were best prepared for SEEMP, with 89 percent already having a plan in place.

Effective January 1, 2013 all vessels over 400 gross tonnes at their first renewal or intermediary survey will have to have an International Energy Efficiency Certificate (IEEC), one requirement of which is the presence of a SEEMP on board.