A powerful decision support tool for vessel optimisation

EcoAdvisor™

The EcoAdvisor™ is a proactive and intelligent decision support system for more efficient vessel operation. It monitors the vessel operation and its environment of the vessel, including power generation, propulsion, environmental forces and control system dynamic. ​With these insights, the EcoAdvisor™ helps operators to achieve reductions in fuel, emission and maintenance cost, without compromising vessel redundancy margin or operating efficiency.

“EcoAdvisor™ demonstrates clearly how digital solutions can help vessel operators remain competitive in a growing green market.”
Odd Hagen VP Offshore Sales, Kongsberg Maritime

THE ECOADVISOR™ PROVIDES REAL TIME INFORMATION TO HELP SHIP OWNERS REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND OPEX

The EcoAdvisor™ is an decision support tool to optimize operation of vessels that have a DP system. A DP vessel can be in many type of operations, e.g., moored, transit, standby and only DP. Different rules and regulations will apply for each operation type when it comes to vessel equipment usage and utilisation, and it is often challenging for the crew to measure and make qualified decisions on the various operational modes.

Several factors contribute to inefficiencies, such as multiple engines running at low utilization, varying loads from thrusters and large power fluctuations due to mission equipment. ​

The EcoAdvisor™ creates an intelligent and comprehensive overview of the factors mentioned above. It delivers advices that enable efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions without compromising vessel redundancy margin.

The Voyage Energy Calculator (VEC), which is included in EcoAdvisor™, assists the operator in planning for a more efficient voyage. The VEC will help to visualize how much energy consumption the voyage will have for different departure and arrival times, for a given speed window. By considering the weather forecast on the route and the added power due to the weather, the VEC assists the operator in planning for a more energy efficient voyage

STEP BY STEP - walk through the entire process of EcoAdvisor™
2. RECOMMENDATIONS.png
Based on the analysis, operational advisory is provided: advice on which engines, batteries and thrusters could be stopped to run the vessel more efficiently and sustainably.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Different micro services receive the data, such as  vessel mode identification, hotel/rest load analysis, optimal power plant setup, performance index and so forth, which are then processed coherently to produce the advises. 

EcoAdvisor™ generates a new advice when it detects a change in the mean weather (wind, wave and current) conditions, power plant system and/ or DP system settings.  A simple explanation is given to the operator, together with advices that helps operator to see why the recommendations are necessary.

Data Analysis.png
The EcoAdvisor™ runs analysis in real-time with data that are measured from different systems.

DATA ANALYSIS

EcoAdvisor™ receives data in real-time from the key systems onboard, which are then analyzed in the customized analyzers to generate advises.

The system can interface with KM and even 3rd party systems. It is possible to connect through a number of industry approved interface types namely Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, NMEA.

Feedback.png
Since EcoAdvisor™ will constantly adapt the advice to the circumstances, new recommendations will be given when changes in weather and operations have been detected.

FEEDBACK LOOP

EcoAdvisor™ continuously monitors the weather and vessel setup/operation. Each time the conditions change, a new advice is generated aimed in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

Due to the system’s ability to adapt to operation conditions, the advices it generates are meaningful for the current ongoing operations.

3. USER INVOLVEMENT.png
Adviceds from EcoAdvisor™ are presented on displays installed in different  gives the Captain, the DP operator and the Chief engineer have the same information. They can then plan, decide and act to run the vessel more efficiently. It also shows an overview of the power use and information about the effect of the advised actions on the redundancy margin.

USER INVOLVEMENT

The generated advises are then presented in an intuitive interface. It is also possible to customize the information presented on the HMI according to the operator roles.

Operators are given simple instructions on how to achieve a more efficient and sustainable operation. In addition to this, the system provides an overview of the pressent, efficiency vs redundancy margin, as well as how it shall be improved by following the advises.

Operators have the option of indicating whether a particular advices cannot be followed by selecting one of the predefined reasons. A log of these operator actions is kept and will be used for system improvements in the future.

Reduction.png
Savings achieved on fuel, emission and running hours in real time is presented.

REDUCTION

Motivation of operators towards following the advices are important, and for this purpose real time savings are computed and displayed when the operator acts. These savings include reductions in fuel consumption, emission, as well as running hours.

Reporting.png
EcoAdvisor`s™ history log and reporting feature helps operators to prepare reports on the advices suggested, the actions executed and the savings achieved, These reports serves as a tool for validating the benefits of the systems. 

REPORTING

Keeping track of the advises the system generates and the operator actions and potential savings achieved are extremely important to the owners and clients. Operators can generate meaningful reports based on timelines and vessel operations using EcoAdvisor's™ user friendly reporting functions.

The report can also be used to benchmark the performance of the system and vessel. The reports can be exported and saved in pdf format which can then be shared with customers.

THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES​

  • DATA - Collecting and analyzing real-time data from various systems onboard​

  • ADVICE - Based on analysis, operational advice is provided to the Captain, DP operator and Chief Engineer on what machineries can be stopped to run the vessel more efficiently. This advice is dynamic – if a change in the weather conditions, power plant system or DP system settings is detected, EcoAdvisor’s ™ recommendations will change accordingly.

  • PLANNING – The Voyage Energy Calculator assist in planning for a more energy efficient voyage by considering the weather forecast.

  • SAFETY - EcoAdvisor™ does not compromise on the safety and the DP integrity of the vessel

  • SUSTAINABLE – The insights from the EcoAdvisor™ helps operators to achieve reductions in fuel, emission and maintenance cost, without compromising vessel redundancy margin or operating efficiency.​

The intuitive design of the EcoAdvisor™ gives the operator a full overview of which actions can be performed and the benefits that can be achieved. With assistance of the unique Balance Profile the operator can set up the vessel for a more efficient operation while at the same time assuring the safety of the operation.

Display Views

The users can navigate between different views namely, savings, technical, voyage energy calculator and history based on their roles and interests.

The balance profile shows where the user is on the efficiency - redundancy margin and indicates that they can achieve efficiency while being safe (the “optimal” spot) by following the suggested actions. 

This section shows details of the efficiency and redundancy visualized in the Balance Profile. Additionally it shows a simple single line view with suggested actions indicated together with power losses and hotel load deviations.

The history and reporting page provides an overview of previous generated and followed adviced including:
* Information on vessel operation and power profile.
* Suggested and followed actions.
* Achieved savings in terms of fuel, emissions and maintenance cost.

We aim to reduce energy usage and speed up the culture change towards more environmentally friendly operations and cost reduction.
Kongsberg Maritime