Digitalisation of Ro/Pax Ferries Fetches Cost Cut for French Operator

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Wartsila has brought about considerable change in the shipping industry. Of this the latest in the block is the digitalisation of Ro/Pax Ferry systems, says a reports published in Handy Shipping Guide.

What is it?

Eniram, a subsidiary company of the Finnish Wärtsilä group, is dedicated to finding energy savings for the maritime sector and has now utilised its latest in energy management technology to assist French ferry operator La Méridionale maximise savings on one of its fleet, the Ro/Pax ferry Piana, which travels between Marseille and Corsica.

The Smart Marine vision

The digitalisation of the vessel’s systems is in line with Wärtsilä’s ‘Smart Marine’ vision to enable the efficient use of resources with the least possible impact on the environment. The process started with a trial evaluation period of the Eniram Trim and Speed solutions in April 2017. The evaluation period, which ended in summer 2018, resulted in annualised fuel savings of around 2%.

How will it reduce cost?

These savings enable payback on the investment in just two years. The savings analysis showed a clear relationship between the rate of usage of the optimisation tools and the savings achieved. The reduction in fuel consumption also delivers a corresponding reduction in exhaust emissions.

How is it helping the company?

Christophe Seguinot, Technical Director at La Méridionale was enthusiastic with the success of the process, saying:

“Performance is one of our core values. To develop our technological capability, we chose Wärtsilä’s Eniram energy management and optimization technology. Together with Wärtsilä, we were able to achieve tangible and sustainable savings, which have been accessed thanks to their advanced products, support and training. We will definitely scale these great results to our entire fleet while discovering new possibilities for utilising the data.”

La Méridionale has operated out of Marseille for more than 80 years and is one of the port’s oldest ship-owners. Its activities have developed considerably since it was founded. It now runs a daily service to Corsica, as well as a once-weekly service to Sardinia for both passengers and freight.

A Successful Partnership

Andrew Rayner, Senior Sales Manager, Eniram was also satisfied that the technology had proved itself, observing:

“This is an excellent case of successful cooperation between Wärtsilä and the customer. By working closely with La Méridionale, we have been able to evolve our products to meet the specific needs of ferry operations, and we appreciate La Méridionale’s positive support throughout this process. We look forward to applying the experience to the rest of their fleet.”

Eniram, acquired by Wärtsilä Corporation in July 2016, and today its ‘Insight Factory’ provides decision-making support for its partners based on real time data collection, statistical modelling, and predictive simulations. The company’s mission is to maximise the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and overall profitability of its customers’ operations, while cutting harmful emissions.

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Source: handyshippingguide