Manta Marine Technologies (MMT) will install its automated propulsion optimisation system, FuelOpt, across nine vessels in the Chemship fleet. This is to help the chemical tanker operator reduce fuel emissions.
The new deal is the result of a successful trial in which FuelOpt was installed on Chemship’s Chemical Challenger vessel to optimise performance of the main engine and suction wings. The Netherlands-based operator will also benefit from Manta’s performance monitoring, reporting and benchmarking tool, Fleet Analytics.
The installations are scheduled to begin with two Japanese-built multigrade vessels being retrofitted by the end of 2025, followed by the remaining tankers during 2026.
Also read: Chemship fits tanker with Econowind’s VentoFoils
Adjusting propulsion in real-time
This deal marks a major commitment by Chemship to optimise its fleet operations to reduce fuel expenditure and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. FuelOpt automatically adjusts a vessel’s propulsion in real-time, enhancing operational performance and freeing up crew to focus on other essential tasks, rather than having to focus on making multiple manual propulsion adjustments.
FuelOpt is fuel-agnostic, working equally well with conventional or alternative fuels, alongside hybrid propulsion solutions, providing significant benefits to shipowners at a time when options such as wind assisted propulsion are growing in popularity.
Different fuels and WASP
Whatever fuel option is in use, FuelOpt dynamically adjusts propulsion based on predefined operational needs, such as maintaining a target speed or specific fuel consumption limit. Within these pre-defined parameters, the system automatically ensures that the vessel always operates at the most efficient propulsion power output. This results in consistent and measurable efficiency gains, regardless of external factors like weather or hull fouling, and simplifies carbon emission reporting.
When FuelOpt is paired with wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) systems, like on Chemical Challenger, it transforms the wind-gained thrust into fuel savings, through automated and precisely executed adjustments of the vessel’s engine propulsion. This offers round-the-clock precision beyond what can be achieved manually.
Also read: Tanker acquires Green Award label with wind-assist tech
Cloud-based vessel monitoring
Fleet Analytics is a real-time, cloud-based, vessel performance monitoring system that collects and analyses high-frequency data from multiple onboard sources. It provides shipowners and operators with actionable insights and allows them to benchmark performance of single vessels or their whole fleet.
The system enables fact-based decision-making, reduces administrative workload and integrates with other technologies like FuelOpt and WASP to enhance efficiency and sustainability across fleets. It also comes with a user-friendly, timeline-based reporting feature, aligned with EU-MRV, EU-ETS, FuelEU Maritime, IMO-DCS, and CII.
Michiel Marelis, Operations Director, Chemship: ‘After decades of relying on manually entered, error-prone consumption figures, we finally have everything digitally available on a single platform. This enables us to eliminate all variables and accurately measure the efficiency of our sustainable investments. We now have full control over our fuel consumption and are achieving optimal savings from our Ventofoils, thanks to the Manta Marine Technologies FuelOpt package.’
Picture: In 2024, the Chemical Challenger became the first chemical tanker in the world to be equipped with Econowind’s wind assisted ship propulsion units (photo by Chemship BV/Flying Focus).
