The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community
Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/800241
www.sea-technology.com March 2017 / st 39 W hen it comes to fuel efciency, innovation contin- ues to challenge the status quo. However, in a risk- averse climate, technology companies cannot rely upon unsubstantiated claims to persuade shipowners, charterers and nanciers of the potential ROI. Operational data collection and advanced statistical analysis not only add value to the OEMs by independently verifying their claims; they also reduce risk across the en- tire industry by ensuring investment certainty. By delivering proven data to conrm that efciency technologies, hull an- ti-fouling, maintenance programs or operational policy are having the expected impact, big data is providing the busi- ness intelligence needed for the industry to make condent and informed progress. Investing with Certainty Shipowners, operators and charterers are facing chal- lenging times. Market volatility, vessel oversupply and low rates mean that it is essential that owners and opera- tors make smart business choices that must satisfy both short- and long-term needs. With commerciality now more acutely pronounced than ever, these organizations cannot afford to take chances by investing in unguaranteed results. This means that "gatekeeper" decision makers must be con- vinced of the value of any new technologies to the wider business and the bottom line before purchases or retrots are considered. In today's operating environment, risk aversion is a ne- cessity. NAPA is increasingly called upon to support owners, operators and charterers in making effective decisions about technologies, particularly those making claims in relation to fuel consumption reduction and energy efciency. Despite current low fuel prices, the market remains competitive and many companies have turned to energy efciency-boosting "clean tech" for existing vessels and newbuilds to improve environmental credibility and to deliver an operational and nancial edge over competitors. While the fuel sav- ings achieved now may not be as compelling as during the height of the market, the downturn in the industry has made every saving vitally important to shipowners and charterers. The technologies available are varied in type, offer and the scale of savings they promise to deliver, from air lubrication for hulls and wind propulsion that can offer double-digit savings to optimization software, fuel emulsions or engine lubricants that offer more marginal gains. The appetite for tangible cost or efciency savings is evident across the in- dustry by the variety and scale of solutions on the market. In a crowded space with beguiling promises pulling would-be buyers in dozens of different directions, the deliv- erable results of each solution offered and how that will im- pact future operating costs must be fully understood by the technical teams. They must also be able to explain clearly and rationalize capital expenditure now against the future rewards. Measurement and analysis conducted by credible and well-known industry data specialists provide a solid founda- tion from which to both make a decision on the technolo- gies to explore and, crucially, to communicate transparently the potential of that technology internally. Third-party tech- nology verication and analysis gives shipowners and oper- ators the foundation for effective decision making based on veriable facts so that they have clear investment certainty behind each purchasing decision. Smoothing the Way for Tech Adoption As much as impartial data analysis can deliver signi- cant value to owners and operators, it can be the driver of so much more for OEM or technology businesses. The industry is categorically more receptive to a proven, mea- surable technology than one with hypothetical, unveried projections. As previously referenced, vessel technology is a booming sector, particularly in the "clean tech" space. As the market becomes more crowded, securing the interest of the market becomes more difcult but also more crucial to a company's survival. It is, therefore, essential for companies to be able to both differentiate themselves from competitors and prove their technologies to attract customers, engage the interest of potential investors and ultimately support business growth and development. One such company that has adopted this approach to verify its claims is Nanol Technologies, the producer of a patented high-performance lube oil additive. Nanol in Veri•cation for Vessel Technologies Third-Party Statistical Analysis to Back Up Tech Claims By Jouni Salo