Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2021)

The Path to Zero

Simulate Cleaner Shipping

SIM is a technology with the potential to make a signi? cant contribution to maritime decarbonization, writes Patrick Ryan, ABS ne of the biggest problems for shipowners understand EEXI and CII compliance requirements than a tra- seeking to understand how environmental ditional spreadsheet-driven approach. SIM can be used to cre- regulation will impact the performance of ate a library of inputs that can be applied by sustainability pro- their ? eets in future is uncertainty. While fessionals to build a complete analysis of vessel performance.

the regulatory framework is in place, chang-

O es that tighten the requirements, or new re- Realizing the Digital Twin gional rules have the potential to disrupt investment decisions. Simulation can also been seen as a means to ‘close the

Owners want to know their options, whether for regulatory loop’ on the Digital Twin concept. Digital Twins hold out the compliance or conformance with voluntary market measures. potential to provide owners with a data-driven view of ves-

And they also need to understand when new fuels or tech- sel performance but there is a need to extend the concept to nologies will enable them to safely comply and keep their decarbonization. The data required can be sourced from both vessels competitive. the EU/UK MRV and IMO DCS data collection programmes

But whereas even a few years ago, the technology needed and create an emissions pro? le, using SIM to validate perfor- to make such judgements was incomplete or unreliable, vessel mance models and explore options for improvement.

operators these days have much more information at their dis- The next stage could be to use SIM to tie this emissions posal. What they need is the means to turn data into decisions. data into real time voyage information, making it possible to predict emissions of future voyages and further expand the

Understanding Simulation Digital Twin concept.

Data’s value is sometimes likened to gold or is described as The results can be displayed as performance insights within ‘the new oil’, but we should really think of data as potential the ABS My Digital Fleet platform and users don’t have to energy. The tool that turns it into usable kinetic energy, so it get involved in the complex calculations behind the scenes can be put to work on the toughest challenges facing the in- since all the information is displayed via an intuitive interface. dustry is Simulation. Variables can easily be introduced into performance models

Simulation technology (SIM) is the application of multi- to build scenarios that can provide responsive solutions to physics models, in sometimes quite simple form and is a tech- changing regulations. nique already well-established in other industrial applications. This includes real performance data on engine behavior or

It is used in automotive design to create greener vehicles and the effectiveness of energy ef? ciency devices, making it pos- it offers the potential for new ways of working to advance in- sible to judge their downstream impact on emissions. novation for cleaner vessels too.

For newbuildings, SIM-based energy ef? ciency evaluation Putting it into Practice supports optimization of the propulsion system, provides sys- ABS has launched a new service using SIM technologies to tem level assessment of fuel consumption and supports life- assess the impact of decarbonization technologies at the new- cycle cost analysis as well as detailed design comparison and building design stage and for existing vessels. The SIM-based optimization of equipment parameters. For existing vessels, Energy Ef? ciency Evaluation Service will allow both planned the service assists with evaluating the retro? tting options and and existing vessels to compare different design and opera- operational changes to reduce fuel consumption and maintain tional options and evaluate the performance impact of adding compliance with regulations. new fuels and energy ef? ciency technologies.

Simulation provides a faster, more ef? cient and more com- As well as enabling ship owners and shipyards to make prehensive way of performing the calculations necessary to more informed decisions about their options, the service can 8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • December 2021

MR #12 (1-17).indd 8 12/2/2021 12:22:21 PM