New BAE System Looks to Better Understand True Cost Savings from Slow Steaming

BAE is developing software to monitor ship equipment, fuel, and energy performance.

BAE Systems (BAE) says it is leading a consortium of technology suppliers to develop new software to monitor ship equipment, fuel, and energy performance in real time, which will be used by U.K.'s Royal Navy and commercial organisations to better understand their cost saving efforts.

The software, known as Ship Energy Assessment – Condition Optimisation & Routing Enhancement System (SEA-CORES), is said to work with existing BAE technologies to model relationships between different onboard systems, and provide recommendations on strategies for more efficient operation.

"For instance, reducing speed may save fuel, but could increase the wear to the engine if it sails below its optimum speed," said Chris Courtaux, Head of Engineering and Energy Services for BAE.

"Providing real time data about the impact of such decisions can help the operator to reduce fuel consumption and minimise wear on the engine, helping to save costs and increase the availability of the fleet to fulfill operational commitments around the world."

SEA-CORES is said to have been developed in response to modern warships' increasing complexities, as well as the large amount of data their systems produce.

"The same technology is valuable for commercial companies looking for opportunities to boost the competitiveness of their operations," said Courtaux.

BAE says it is working on the collaborative project, which is sponsored by Innovate UK, with the University of Southampton and shipping industry technology suppliers James Fisher and Sons plc (James Fisher and Sons), Fugro, and OSISoft UK Ltd (OSISoft).

BAE says it is currently testing the technology in Northern Europe on a commercial tanker that was provided by James Fisher and Sons.

Testing is expected to continue until the end of 2016.

In April, NGOs Seas At Risk (SAR) and Transport & Environment (T&E) released a study that suggested that improvements in vessel efficiency are being driven by bunker prices and economic cycles.