As part of its ongoing programme to increase fuel efficiency, Tallink Grupp has installed Qtagg’s EcoPilot system on the cruise ferry ‘Isabelle’.
EcoPilot is a voyage optimisation tool incorporating autonomous speed and power control, as well as weather routing.
The software controls the propulsion machinery to arrive on time at lowest total cost.
EcoPilot’s unique feature is that it manages the entire voyage by calculating an optimum power plan and executing it automatically, with little or no manual intervention.
‘Isabelle’s’ verified results have been a reduction of 7% in fuel consumption and emissions.
The 2,500 pax capacity, twin CP propeller ferry was built in 1989 and acquired by Tallink seven years go. She is usually deployed on daily cruises between Stockholm, Sweden and Riga, Latvia.
Installed on board, EcoPilot gives the Master full control over the ship’s performance and new ways to achieve the vessel’s sustainable operations.
During more than 50 voyages this summer, using EcoPilot has resulted in a reduction of 7% in fuel consumption and emissions. These results were verified by sailings with and without the EcoPilot operating on alternate round trips.
Qtagg CEO, Tomas Lindqvist, said: “Tallink has ambitious sustainability goals and we are keen to help the company realise them. Together we can make a substantial difference for the environment in the Baltic Sea Region.”
“Reductions in fuel consumption and emissions are an important benefit for all shipping companies and EcoPilot has helped us achieve this,” said Indrek Lepp, Master of the ‘Isabelle’.
“After a period of familiarisation, EcoPilot is now in full use by ‘Isabelle’s’ deck and engine officers.
“The system is quite new, and some initial challenges were solved with support from the Qtagg specialists. Once the deck officers fully understood the benefits and limitations of the system and operated the vessel based on that knowledge, we achieved the best fuel savings,” he said.
Tarvi-Carlos Tuulik, Tallink’s CEO Ship Management, added: “Tallink is continuously evaluating innovative technologies to improve our operations. We invest in collaboration with research institutions and encourage all crew of Tallink ships to introduce innovations that bring energy, fuel, and water savings.
“We saw EcoPilot as a tool to learn more about the ship’s efficiency and realised the system was worth testing. The 7% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions on ‘Isabelle’ is a great achievement. But the crew’s involvement is crucial, and this result is also thanks to our open-minded users, professional navigators, and engineers on board.
“EcoPilot also contributes to the ship’s just in time arrival, which ensures smooth traffic arrangements in crowded ports during peak hours. We see that EcoPilot is a tool that can improve ships’ energy efficiency and we will consider implementing it on other vessels,” he said.
