You’re a Marine Engineer who wants to improve performance. What metrics should you be tracking?

Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a biofuel made by the hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil. If produced from palm oil or waste from palm oil production, HVO could contribute to deforestation and high carbon emissions. While carbon emissions are low, emissions of NOx and particulates are not reduced.

Fuel consumption is directly proportional with the load. But to measure the efficiency of the engine Specific Fuel oil consumption (SFOC) should be calculated. SFOC variation with the load percentage is not directly proportional. It decreases with the increase of load percentage to a certain value and slightly increases near to 100%. Values will be vary with engine design. To verify the performance have to compare with trial reports.

In my experience the Diesel engines are highly affected from fuel injectors. Through my sailing experience at various vessels fuel injectors had really poor conditions and maintenance. This the point that most companies should look for. Better injection mean less fuel spend per kw produced ,less emissions & less soot production by unburned fuel oil.

Yachting industry must use HVO or diesel alternative, which is marketed under the name Cristal Power XTL100, claims to offer a 90 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions on the basis that is made from recycled oil which has already made its environmental impact. While the biofuel still emits nitrogen oxides, it does not emit any sulphur and claims to be 100 per cent odour-free and compatible with all engine types without an increase in fuel consumption.

To maintain optimum efficiency, 1. correct heavy fuel temperature is very important . 2. Maintain correct engine lubricant pressure. 3. Correct propelling shaft seal oil pressure. 4. Correct functioning of governor to maintain optimum speed so as to meet contractual ETAs at all times. 5. Correct fuel specifc gravity and trim calculations at also very important to continuously Assess bunker in hand .

A ship's maintenance plan is crucial for performance. Regular upkeep ensures efficiency, reduces breakdowns, and extends lifespan. Neglecting maintenance leads to failures, increased fuel use, and safety risks. Over-maintenance causes downtime, high costs, and strains resources, impacting profitability. MTF(Mean Time to Failure) and MTR(Mean Time to Repair) guide effective maintenance scheduling: 1. Analyze historical data to predict failures and repair times. 2. Prioritize components with shorter MTF and longer MTR for proactive maintenance. 3. Focus on critical components with high failure rates and long repair times to minimize downtime. 4. Continuously monitor and adjust maintenance efforts for optimal performance.

I believe that more vessels in a near future will have additional sensor networks added to their equipment, to measure running hours, rpm's, temperatures, pressures, vibration, amperage draw, fuel consumption, etc, and with data logging and AI analysis of the results be able to help with breakdown prediction as well as adjusting the service interval to the actual state of the equipment. This would then be linked to the Planned Maintenance Software and show a clear and easily monitored live maintenance need as well as preventing catastrophic failure and allow for servicing rather than repairing.

Regular Maintenances through many Computer Based System applicable onboard must be well implemented, the output will be well perfomance of every single parts of the Vessel Machineries including Fuel Efficiency, etc

Proper PMS, this is the main to keep your equipment in optimal conditions. Because the poor maintenance is the main root of all the problems with the equipments.

In addition to an adequate PMS, ensure that personnel have the competence to carry out maintenance and finally implement a correct reliability system. All support areas must be in the he same frequency.

Essentially, the performance of a ship is the embodiment of its availability Availability comprises many factors: scheduled maintenance, crew readiness to timely respond to emergencies and unforeseen challenges, and critical / other spare parts inventory. A ship's true capability is tested in its ability to swiftly mobilize for commercial operations, respond to emergencies, and navigate through unpredictable water conditions. It's not merely about the distance it can cover, but the assurance she provides in being at the right place, at the right time and departs as scheduled.

available rate will be prudent if you have a reliability vessel by implementing the correct maintenance strategy and Plan maintenance system

Essentially, the performance of a ship is the embodiment of its availability Availability comprises many factors: scheduled maintenance, crew readiness to timely respond to emergencies and unforeseen challenges, and critical / other spare parts inventory. A ship's true capability is tested in its ability to swiftly mobilize for commercial operations, respond to emergencies, and navigate through unpredictable water conditions. It's not merely about the distance it can cover, but the assurance she provides in being at the right place, at the right time and departs as scheduled.

Availability rate is indeed a crucial metric for assessing the operational readiness and reliability of marine systems. Monitoring and improving this rate help ensure the vessel or platform can consistently perform its intended functions. Identifying and addressing factors that may impact availability, such as failures or human errors, contributes to maintaining optimal operational performance.

On cruise ships' machinery, availability is logged in monthly charts to analyze downtime and response rates by shore side management, especially for diesel engines and fresh water generation plants.

As for tracking safety incidents, I am very keen on reported 'Near Misses', these incidents that just went OK are a valuable topic for a toolbox meeting. With the full crew a discussion about the 'why' and 'how', as well as the future way to avoid it, is crucial.

Apart for monitoring and reporting safety incidents another proactive way to increase safety is sharing best practice, praise and award good work, promote safety talks with crew and teams, good planning and risk assess of work and task management. If needed, one can redesign work tasks to improve safety. However, the key role here is held by the management (operators and owners) that need to drive safety culture as part of the operations and promote safer work practices. Also learning from others and sharing data helps to improve safety records.

Monitoring safety incidents is vital for maintaining a safe maritime environment. Tracking and analyzing incidents allow for a comprehensive understanding of potential risks and hazards, enabling the implementation of effective preventive measures. Investigating root causes and implementing corrective actions contribute to a continuous improvement of safety protocols and overall safety culture.

Complacency has to be investigated as potential root causes of safety incidents and the attitude to ‘I’ve done this a hundred times’ be eradicated. As systems become more complex and more regulations implemented. Workload on personnel increases and without the support of increasing the workforce this leads to an uptake of incidents due to worker fatigue. Tracking incidents and seeing trends in the types of incident occurring are only helpful if this data is used proactively to implement barriers and protocols to reduce such incident.

In a maritime environment, investigating the root causes and consequences of safety incidents is essential to maintaining a safe and efficient operation. When something goes wrong—whether it’s an injury, equipment failure, or a near miss—it’s critical to dig deeper and understand why it happened. Was it due to human error, a lapse in protocol, or faulty equipment? By pinpointing the root cause, you can not only address the immediate issue but also take steps to prevent it from happening again.

Benchmarking: Compare your vessel's performance data against industry standards or similar vessels. This can help you identify areas where you might be lagging behind.

Indicadores de Mantenimiento ya que al llevar una estadística permitirá establecer mejores planes de mantenimiento a las embarcaciones

Monitor the levels of CO2, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter emissions. This is essential for compliance with international regulations like those from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and for reducing the environmental footprint of vessels.

Fuel consumption is a measure of how much fuel your marine engine or propulsion system uses per unit of distance or time. It affects the operational costs, emissions, and endurance of your vessel or platform. By tracking fuel consumption, you can identify and address any issues that cause excessive or irregular fuel use, such as leaks, fouling, misalignment, or wear. You can also optimize your fuel consumption by adjusting your speed, load, trim, or route according to the weather, sea state, and traffic conditions.

Monitoring emission levels is crucial for environmental compliance and minimizing the impact of marine systems. Adhering to regulations and adopting cleaner technologies aligns with sustainability goals. Analyzing and interpreting these metrics effectively requires the use of appropriate tools, methods, and skills for data collection, processing, and reporting. This comprehensive approach enables informed decision-making to achieve technical, operational, and environmental objectives.

All of the above measured and acted upon will improve availability of assets but a ballance has to be met on cost effort to do this versus benifits gained. One of the most difficult areas we all face recently is lack of raw materials and its impact on the supply chain. How to improve sustainability in this area to prevent future occurance will be a major challenge to overcome.

The following factors also need to be taken into account: 1. Draft/Trim: Changing draft/trim change cargo capacity but impact speed and fuel efficiency. 2. Temperature and Salinity: Changes in water temperature and salinity affect trim and draft. 3. Weather Conditions: Adverse weather alters speed, fuel consumption, and stability. 4. Sea Currents: Ocean currents impact speed and fuel consumption. 5. Hull Fouling: Marine growth on the hull increases drag, reducing speed and increasing fuel use. 6. Engine Performance: Monitoring engine parameters is crucial. 7. Propeller Condition: An intact propeller ensures optimal thrust. 8. Voyage Timings: Efficient planning enhances overall performance if ship's idle time is reduced to a minimum.

Auxiliaries and cleaning of piping/vents, as well as cooling water, LO, FO temperatures, etc. Hull and propeller conditions and vessel’s trim/list as well as best route and current.

Major equipment mounting locations, so Production Design can start foundation can be designed.. This way the Main Engine, reduction gear, etc., can be fabricated and installed, along with IB backup structures, eliminating need to return to a very hard space for many reasons. Think of major hrs to accomplish stuff… It’s more than your remaining hours to fn….

Simple optimization of usage machinery without compromising safety is a very effective method to improve performance which is forgotten in day-to-day activities in the engine room