HullPIC 10 highlights advances in performance monitoring

With market pressures and regulatory developments forcing the maritime industry to focus on energy efficiency and meeting environmental challenges, ship operators are eyeing opportunities in ship performance monitoring and efficiency-based technologies and solutions. A significant number of those operators were joined by technology and solution providers and others at HullPIC where industry professionals gathered from around the globe.

“This is our 10th HullPIC and it’s encouraging to see the growing industry interest in performance management and indeed our annual conference to discuss the latest developments, challenges and opportunities,” said Morten Sten Johansen, Jotun’s Global Category Director, Hull Performance.

In the lead up to the conference DNV’s Volker Bertram said that interest in hull performance monitoring is growing, and the concept and technology has come a long way in the decade since the first HullPIC. He described performance monitoring as, “arguably the biggest single lever to improve ship energy efficiency.”

The three-day conference included presentations and insights from leading experts and practitioners. The sessions covered a broad range of subjects, including performance monitoring practices, measuring and analysis methodologies, leveraging high-frequency data and AI-driven solutions, vendor and operator perspectives, and talks about the next steps to spur further development and increase awareness in this evolving field.

Leveraging data for proactive cleaning

Also under discussion were hull cleaning aspects. In his presentation, Jotun’s Manolis Levantis focussed on Proactive cleaning: leveraging data for a successful beginning. By offering an always clean hull by combining antifouling, robotics and active hull condition monitoring, it meets the IMO’s definition of proactive cleaning which is considered to be periodic removal of microfouling to prevent and minimize attachment of macrofouling. Levantis explained that, with the development of Hull Skating Solutions, Jotun has been one of the first movers in this area.

The benefits of a clean hull was highlighted, focusing on reducing speed loss, saving fuel, minimizing downtime, regulatory compliance and not least protecting biodiversity by eliminating the transfer of invasive species.

Levantis also explained how ship operators choose antifouling coatings based on intended operating profiles for their vessels but for over half of vessels above 20,000dwt trading patterns can be significantly disrupted over a three-year period. This means that the coatings may not perform as expected especially if there are long idling periods in waters where fouling can occur very rapidly raising the need for reactive cleaning as and when such services can be accessed.

Jotun’s development of the HullSkater allows ship operators to avoid such situations by carrying out proactive cleaning regularly. Levantis highlighted that if appropriate data is collected and leveraged the HullSkater will be operated more efficiently. The ideal scenario is to use a prediction algorithm that is able to predict accurately the level of biofouling on a vessel’s hull and by this trigger a mission only when it is necessary.

Levantis presented performance results from vessels using the Hull Skating Solution. Noon data from five vessels was retrieved covering periods from 25 to 36 months. Given the uncertainty when using noon data, all parameters were cross validated using third party sources such as AIS and weather data. All vessels delivered on expectations, and as he concluded:

Poll reveals positive attitude towards collaboration

As is usual for HullPIC, a short survey was carried out asking delegates to respond to a number of pertinent questions. Overall, a majority of delegates thought shipping companies should share performance data to collaborate on coatings and retrofits although some said sharing data should be done within alliances. Less than 10% thought shipowners should keep data confidential.

“The active participation and exchange of knowledge and best practice between industry stakeholders has been key to the success of HullPIC. Indeed, it’s a good example of Jotun’s Clean shipping commitment and how the company works collaboratively to make shipping become more sustainable,” said Morten Sten Johansen as a reference to the survey findings.

Need to speed up wide scale adoption of digital solutions – but how?

During the conference talks it became clear that the issue of performance management is critical to sustainable operations and an increasing number of ship operators and solution providers are taking important initiatives to improve performance monitoring.

But what needs to be done to speed up the wide scale adoption of data-driven, digital systems? This was the theme of the final session  which brought together a panel of operators and developers. Moderated by Johansen and Bertram, the panellists shared their thoughts on developments and whether tightening regulations and the focus of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) was driving up interest.

The general feeling was that more standardization combined with being able to identify financial advantages would increase take up of auto logged data use argued one operator. Another viewpoint suggested there is a lack of awareness about the actual benefits at the decision make level, with a solution provider commenting, “Typically these are not technical people. There is a need to increase the awareness of the benefits on the business side as well.”

Points made by audience members postulated that more regulation may be the answer with one operator saying, “Regulations will give the world shipping industry much more transparency and understanding” and another saying, “There is definitely more interest as the tightening of regulations is driving up the cost of emissions, leading to more favourable business case.”

Tighter regulations and ESG key drivers

Echoing the comments made during the closing panel debate, another operator representative said he believes the regulations and ESG are key drivers. “This is partly due to the financially interesting side of being able to tackle these regulations more optimally and of ESG-conscious clients who are willing to pay more for an ESG-conscious operator.”

Summarising the conference, Johansen said, “Clearly there is growing consensus that data-driven, digital vessel performance systems are necessary to help make shipping more sustainable but there are challenges and wide scale adoption will take time. There are, however, a lot of good initiatives underway to improve vessel performance and progress is being made as evidenced by the presentations and papers at HullPIC.”

He concluded, “We are all committed to continuing our work to further advance vessel performance management that benefits responsible ship operators, suppliers and the environment.”