Such situation was before 2016. Since then there has been a sharp technological leap in the maritime industry. To analyze fuel consumption, it is possible to gather and use data not only about the engine, but also many other external parameters affecting fuel consumption. In fact, earlier it was possible to analyze data after arrival to the port, for example, this captain exceeds the recommended speed on the route, which affects the additional expense and financial costs. It was really good and useful if captain or crew or even shipowner could see this data in real time and adjust the actions on board related to fuel consumption. But of course, there was no possibility of preventive measures: planning the optimal route, not only in terms of time of arrival at the destination, but also fuel costs / consumption. To realize this possibility, it is necessary to analyze more factors, and not just data from the engine:
- Vessel hull fouling
- Trim and draft
- Storm and Weather
- Currents and waves
With machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), monitoring data on fuel consumption from the engine becomes only supporting information for collecting statistical data and analysis in order to build effective fuel optimization models with route planning and a warning system for both the captain on the vessel and fleet management system in a shipping company.
The owner and the management of the ship company thus receives tools for significant optimization of activities: saving even 5% of fuel will save up to $ 100,000 per year from 1 vessel, at a cost of 30 tons per day at a price of $ 250 per ton and 280 days at sea. It can only be provided with preventive measures, building effective models, collecting a large amount of data and machine learning in order to submit analytical and forecast data for approval to the management of the ship company and the master.
Thus, technologies have opened up new prospects for maritime logistics and promise a change in the landscape of the existing market for fuel optimization systems. One of these innovative solutions was the fuel optimization system for shipowners - Marine Digital FOS.