World News
Rudder Control System Provides SEEMP Compliance
A rudder control system made by AutoMATE Marine Systems LLC allows ships to achieve Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) compliance under International Maritime Organisation (IMO) rules, while at the same time reducing fuel spending by 1 to 3 percent, the company says.
The DigiPILOT system, which the Massachusetts-based company says minimises ships' rudder movements to optimise fuel use and voyage time, is available as a retrofit, and the firm highlighted that in the IMO Guidance for the Development of a SEEMP, "Retrofitting of a more efficient autopilot to existing ships could be considered."
The company said it offers ship owners a guarantee of fuel savings, taking continuous measurements on each voyage and contrasting them with the ships' conventional gyropilot's fuel rate usage to prove its value.
The IMO requirement for all ships to have a SEEMP went into effect January 1, 2013.
A survey of ship owners conducted by software design company NAPA Group last fall, before the mandate went into effect, found that most ship owners looked at SEEMPs only for meeting the requirement and were not focused on using them to maximise fuel savings.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 502.00 | 7.00 | 617.00 | 6.00 |
| Rotterdam | 455.00 | 8.00 | 619.50 | 4.00 |
| Houston | 467.00 | 4.50 | 625.00 | 2.50 |
| Fujairah | 495.00 | 6.00 | 712.50 | 1.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 524.50 | 4.50 | 710.50 | 4.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 479.50 | 6.50 | 643.50 | 3.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 570.50 | 2.00 | 747.50 | 5.50 |
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