EMEA News
Finnish Shipper Reduces Bunker Consumption by 7.5%
Ro-ro and passenger ship operator Finnlines Plc. (Finnlines) says in 2012 it reduced its bunker consumption by 7.5 percent year-on-year, as it improved its financial performance and prepared for new emissions control rules.
Finnlines substantially reduced its pre-tax loss to €1.6 million ($2.1 million) in 2012, compared with a loss of €5.4 million ($6.9 million) in 2011, and recorded a slight gain in revenues to €609.3 million ($782.5 million), up from €605.2 million ($777.3 million) the previous year.
The company said its vessels used 363,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and diesel oil in 2012, 29,601 tonnes less than in 2011.
It has also been looking at "effective and technically feasible solutions" to adapt to the lower sulfur content limit for marine fuel that will be in effect in European Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) in 2015, where it does most of its business.
Finnlines added that it optimises its transports, routes, and timetables to use the least possible fuel per transported cargo unit.
"Fuel consumption can be reduced by optimising route, speed, load, and engine mode," the company said.
It said it uses voyage planning program Onboard Napa Power on its MS Finnmaid vessel, helping it adjust speed for optimal performance, and its MS Finnlady uses Eniram's Dynamic Trim Assistant to sail in optimal trim.
Finnlines also said its newest ro-ro ships are more energy efficient than previous generations thanks to their rudder/propeller combination technology.
The company, which is part of the Italian Grimaldi Group, has said it is using fleet restructuring and new cost-efficiency measures to improve its bottom line.
