Jotun: ISO 19030 Could Bring Bunker Savings of $30 Billion a Year

Geir Axel Oftedahl, Business Development Director of Hull Performance Solutions for Jotun, says MEPC's ISO 19030 standard will provide “much needed” transparency to buyers and sellers.

The Jotun Group (Jotun) has welcomed draft legislation to establish standards and methods for measuring hull and propeller performance, and to define performance indicators for hull and propeller maintenance, repair, and retrofit activities.

ISO 19030 is expected to receive final approval next year, and could reduce the world fleet's bunker bill by $30 billion per year, according to Geir Axel Oftedahl, Business Development Director of Hull Performance Solutions for Jotun.

"Poor hull and propeller performance is currently estimated to account for around 10 percent of world fleet's energy costs and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions," says Oftedahl.

"By creating a standard, the industry will have access to proven ways to measure speed loss, leading to better decisions about hull coatings and propellers.

"We believe improving hull and propeller performance can reduce the world fleet's fuel cost by as much as $30 billion per year and achieve an estimated 0.3 percent reduction in man-made greenhouse gas emissions."

As Ship & Bunker has previously reported, hull performance monitoring is difficult due to several rapidly changing factors that influence fuel consumption including draft, trim, ship speed, and wind.

DNV GL has also previously noted that while hull performance monitoring systems all have a similar basic approach, the available approaches are difficult to compare.

Jotun says the new standard in draft form represents "a genuine milestone" and will offer much needed transparency for buyers and sellers of a wide range of fuel saving technologies and services.

"The standard will benefit responsible suppliers, owners, and the environment," Oftedahl says.

In June, DNV GL announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Jotun to improve hull performance in an effort to reduce customers' emissions and fuel costs.