SMART TECHNOLOGY TO THE FOREFRONT0 pages

COMMERCIAL MARINE SMART TECHNOLOGY

SMART TECHNOLOGY
TO THE FOREFRONT
THE RESULT: SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS, EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY FOR SEA WATER
COOLING SYSTEMS IN BOTH NEWBUILD AND RETROFIT APPLICATIONS
BY CHRISTIAN MARTIN, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, COMMERCIAL MARINE

F
leet managers seek high efficiency and reliability for
their vessels – to them, it’s all about uptime. To the
fleet manager who needs to manage tight fuel and
maintenance budgets, the slightest cost-saving advantage
can mean a huge impact to profitable operation.
C
hief engineers and engineering staff – responsible
for the daily maintenance and operation – are
faced with the immediate needs of a vessel. Any
unplanned downtime or a catastrophic breakdown
of components while at sea is not acceptable.
A ship’s engine room fluid handling system represents
approximately 20 to 25 percent of the vessel’s total electric load.
This presents an opportunity for savings if energy consumption
can be significantly reduced. It also means greener operation
and less carbon emissions. More savings can be achieved if
maintenance and the risk of system failure can be minimized.
This factors into additional savings as it allows the crew to focus
on other areas of concern.

Razor-thin operating margins and the desire to enhance
sustainable processes mean that owners and operators
of commercial vessel fleets must depend on outsidethe-box thinking and planning in all facets of operation.
Technology, properly applied, can and should be part of
the game plan to optimize efficiency and sustainability.
Fleet-wide applications of such technology can result in
significant operating savings, enhanced uptime, reducing
the carbon footprint and an increase in profitability.

New technology – smart technology – is available that enables
vessel and fleet operators to achieve substantial energy savings
by running pumps more efficiently via a sophisticated control
system. Such a system can be applied to both newbuild and
retrofit situations.
It also provides condition monitoring that protects both the
pump and sea water cooling system, helping to avoid unplanned
downtime. The same system can also provide intelligent
monitoring, delivering continuous real-time status information
that initiates alarms that indicate attention is required.

Everyone has different direct needs based on
responsibilities. Finding technologies that provide solutions
across all facets of operation is the key. It isa challenge for all
parties involved in fleet operation.
O
wners and operators face greater economic
challenges than ever. Fluctuating energy costs affect
the operation of vessels. Ever-changing commodity
and manufacturing costs affect the ebb and flow of
world trade. And there’s the pressure and the desire to
operate “green.” These factors magnify the importance
of efficient, cost-effective and responsible operation.

Optional features such as Active Valve Control add an extra
level of efficiency improvement. By automatically opening and
closing valves that control the sea water cooling system, this
option also eliminates the potential for human error in valve
settings and provides the potential for added equipment savings
and reduces maintenance by allowing certain hardware to be
removed within the sea water cooling system.

ALLWEILER HOUTTUIN™ IMO
®

®

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