The maritime industry is a global, autonomous ecosystem comprised of multiple businesses of all shapes and sizes. This has come to a head in recent years as awareness of issues relating to a lack of sustainability, including the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels, has grown. In a nutshell, if the maritime industry is going to fully commit to reducing carbon emissions, serious and drastic action is required. However, to do so, decisions need to be shared among the key stakeholders functioning within the industry on a global scale. This is where sustainable ship management may be the solution.
When it comes to ensuring a vessel is environmentally sustainable, the challenge facing many owners/operators in the maritime industry is a reliance on fossil fuels, as well as securing the right amount of fuel at the right price and having it ready to go at the right time. Purchase too much fuel and that owner/operator will have their hands tied with expensive capital – but buy too little, and you risk having to make costly emergency stops and delaying the operations of your vessel. You could also pay too much for the fuel which can impact your return on investment (ROI) or buy the wrong type which could damage the engine of your ship. Multiply this by the number of vessels operating at any one time and suddenly, owners and operators alike need to find ways to better optimise the operations of their fleet.
So what is sustainable ship management? And how can it streamline fleet operations?
What is sustainable ship management?
As the name suggests, ship management refers to the operation of maritime vessels by a ship management company, usually on behalf of a private owner or maritime company. A ship management company will handle the management and upkeep of an individual vessel or fleet of ships, making ship management services a vital component of the global economy. This is because the maritime industry transports 90% of global trade every year and it is ship management companies that will often oversee the services connected with a vessel, including the transportation of important cargo.
In recent years, the concept of sustainable ship management has begun to gain more traction. Similar to conventional ship services, sustainable ship management also includes managing marine vessels for owners and operators. However, as the name implies, sustainable ship management employs more environmentally friendly techniques and processes.
So how can sustainable ship management optimise your fleet?
Plan ahead
One of the primary benefits of sustainable ship management is the ability to plan ahead. This is especially relevant when it comes to fuel management across your fleet, where planning and preparation are vital. Many ship management companies offer their very own digital dashboard where owners/operators will have access to their data and different reports. This can make it easier to plan ahead for any potential disruptions or routine maintenance.
In the right hands, data analytics tools can be very powerful and are essential in the digital era. With the click of a button, you’ll be able to compare suppliers and contracts, monitor the location of your vessels and any routes, manage fuel consumption and even see the average speed of each ship.
By building an accurate picture of your fleet, the associated fuel costs, fuel quality and availability at ports, sustainable ship management allows owners and operators alike to carefully plan and manage the exact requirements and demands of their fleet.
Reduce costs and maintain fuel quality
One of the biggest obstacles facing the maritime sector is its reliance on fossil fuels. While alternative fuels are in the pipeline, limited availability and high costs prohibit many businesses across the industry from making the switch. As a result, the real, current alternative available is optimising fuel efficiency.
Having a clear picture of your fleet and how much fuel you need is essential. This is where having access to the purchasing histories of suppliers can help owners/operators build a picture of the best suppliers at each port. By combining that knowledge with market data, fuel price and port information, sustainable ship management companies can monitor the performance of your fleet and adjust your fuel consumption accordingly, as well as ensure routine maintenance keeps your vessel in tip-top shape.
Drive fleet efficiency
Sustainable ship management can also drive the efficiency of your fleet through routine, preventative maintenance. Doing so can simplify the management of your fleet and even lower operational costs.
In a nutshell, sophisticated ship management software can manage your fleet from ship to shore by handling multiple supplier negotiations, placing orders, recording test samples, and even taking care of your claims management.
Final thoughts
So what is sustainable ship management? And how can it streamline fleet operations? The answer lies in improving fleet efficiency, reducing costs and gaining the ability to plan ahead.
When it comes to environmental sustainability, the challenge facing many businesses in the maritime sector is a reliance on fossil fuels. This is where sustainable ship management may be the solution.
When it comes to decarbonising the maritime industry, you can’t just put a stop to operations. The services provided by the sector play a pivotal role in the global economy – without it, a number of economies around the world would collapse and devastate modern society as we know it. As a result, it makes more sense to simply adopt more sustainable practices that aim to decarbonise the maritime industry step-by-step such as the implementation of sustainable ship management services. Doing so can optimise your vessel operations, by drastically cutting your overhead costs and maximising efficiency.
