A ship's engine room usually contains several engines for different purposes. The main engine, or the propulsion engine, is used to spin the ship's propeller and move the ship through the water. Certain sensors are fitted and connected as standard during construction of the engine and the vessel. However, these are not always sufficient or adequate to fully benefit from Vessel Performance Management systems or to implement preventive maintenance.

OEM vendors have developed several wireless sensors to obtain more and enhanced data from engines. Sealution provides an opportunity for a new onboard application of these sensors. With the internal network created through our solution, it is easy to connect existing and newly installed sensors with our Central Module for efficient data collection and instant onboard processing.

With the Energy Efficiency eXisting ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements meanwhile into effect since January 1st, 2023, meeting these regulatory requirements to reduce carbon emissions by the shipping industry will necessitate from shipowners a combination of operational but also technical changes to improve the energy efficiency of ships and fleets.

While there is currently a strong drive to equip newer vessels and the numerous new builds that are continuously launched with advanced technology and innovations, the greatest challenge in achieving maritime GHG reductions is fitting the existing merchant fleet, which consists of approximately 55,000 ships with two-stroke engines.

Apart from a wide variety of efficiency improvements (based on in-depth data analytics) and the use of biofuels, retrofitting the existing maritime fleet to dual-fuel engines capable of running on sustainable fuels like ammonia and methanol is one of the options available to the maritime industry to achieve decarbonization targets. The introduction of alternative fuels is fundamental to reaching net zero emissions. Ammonia, LNG, hydrogen and methanol are a today the main existing options. However, these emerging fuel types are presenting new risks to vessels, ship crews, terminals in ports, the environment and the entire maritime ecosystem as a whole: flammability and toxicity are undeniable challenges inherent to these alternative fuel types.

Managing these risks presented by the alternative fuels in real time will become paramount.

Despite the risks associated with an ammonia leak, the gas is incredibly difficult to detect in small quantities. Using emerging fuels will require increased levels of safety, awareness and operational procedures compared to the well-established practises associated today with running vessels on traditional marine fuel types.

A recommended strategy is ensuring vessel safety by deploying a multi-sensor (multi-type) layered approach with strategic detection positioning on board, offering a secure web of coverage to safeguard against accidental gas leaks.

Enabling IoT connectivity below deck in confined and insulated spaces, Sealution’s technology will help shipowners to install this multi-sensor layered approach on board of their vessels and fleets.