In our first article, we highlighted the potential for Charterers to apply optimum trim. Today we continue our presentation and look in what way optimum trim could work for ship Owners.
First, we must understand that there are different types of Owners. Ship Owners that order a series of ships at the same shipyard, with the same (own) design. This is often seen in the Container segment but is also applicable to the multi-purpose segment. Secondly, there are Owners who are ordering “standard” designed ships. These ships are designed by the shipyard and during the lifespan of the model-type, changes are made such as engine upgrades, propeller changes etc. Hence what from the face of it looks like a sister ship, may if fact not be an identical sister. Lastly, there are also ship Owners who are active buyers on the second hand fleet. These Owners may have 2 or 3 identical sister ships, but that is often not the case.
Apart from the different types of Owners, there are also different types of operations. Owners can decide to Charter out their vessels, operate them on Voyage Charter basis, or are carrying their own (booked) cargo? If the Owners operating on a Time-Charter basis, the Time-Charter is responsible for and paying the fuel bill (See here). Otherwise, Owners are paying the fuel bill and thus take benefit from any fuel and/or time savings.
In today’s environment, due to MRV-regulations and other environmental requirements, Owners often decide to place an onboard weather routing system onboard. This decision supporting and monitoring tool helps the Master onboard to choose the most efficient and safest route, whilst easing the administrative burden. By selecting the route which has the least impact on your vessel, you are both saving time and fuel.
Another solution to save time and/or fuel is to apply optimum trim. Studies learned that only 2% of all voyages are actually performed basis the design specifications. That means in 98% the voyage condition does not meet the (optimum) design parameters. Optimum trim means effectively adopting to what is in that particular case the most optimum hull condition, whilst sailing. By applying optimum trim, your vessel will reduce the resistance and thus speed increases or the fuel consumption would be lower. Depended on your need, you just need to select what would work best in your case.
Many solutions, however, do not take into account what effect the wave heights have. I.e. their trim-advise is only applicable for calm seas. But how about propeller immersion in bad weather? Don’t you also need to take the propeller efficiency into consideration?
Trim-Advisor does take these 2 key-elements into consideration. In fact, Trim-Advisor is the first trim solution partnered with a weather routing company to include weather into their trim model. This does not only ensure the optimum trim, it additionally ensures optimum trim at all times! And that all for a very reasonable price, far cheaper than a CFD-Modeling system or Tow-tank test.
With Trim-Advisor, you can actually combine these 2 fuel saving solutions, generating a higher combined saving compared to the 2 individual solutions together. An optimum route, based on the weather and optimum trim or just weather or Trim, whichever works best.
In this way, optimum trim saves both money and reduce your environmental footprint. Optimum benefits at low cost.
Convinced or like to know more, contact us, we are happy to jointly look how we can assist you in achieving your goals and targets, by sending us an email (trim-advisor@rensmarine.com) or call us (+31 10 340 0 240).