Shipowners to Benefit from Energy Management Strategy Using ISO 50001

With the focus on rising fuel prices, Lloyd’s Register provides an effective energy management approach that will help owners identify suitable options and opportunities when choosing technologies, operational parameters and fuel types.

Increasing energy prices, the patchwork of emissions regulation and question marks over untested technology, are all giving shipowners a headache when it comes to making investment decisions. This is true for both retro-fit and newbuild solutions.

“Clearly, the market is confused by some of the messages out there”, comments Katharine Palmer, Lloyd’s Register’s Environmental Manager. “Obviously, market conditions are not encouraging significant newbuild activity right now but owners are thinking about how they make their fleets more efficient and when they do order new tonnage, they want to be confident in their investment decisions. What is suitable for a Baltic ferry operator is likely to be very different to the requirements of Greek bulk carrier owner.”

At Posidonia next week Lloyd’s Register will be running a series of free mini-seminars throughout the week, on its exhibition stand at the event. These mini-seminars will look at the issues owners need to consider when evaluating investment decisions.

The key themes are energy management and understanding new technology.

Lloyd’s Register advises owners that looking at energy management in its entirety will provide immediate and long term benefits. Using the ISO 50001 energy management standard is a practical first step. Greek tanker owners have been leading the way – Maran Tankers adopted the ISO 50001 standard earlier this year and Capital Ship Management have also now taken the same course – with Lloyd’s Register’s support.

Katharine, with colleague Anthi Miliou, will be providing owners with an approach to making decisions about air emissions: “Fuel prices have been volatile and no-one can predict what the future will hold for energy prices. What we can provide is a structure to enable owners to make the most informed investment decisions in a complex regulatory environment and to make technology evaluations based on different fuel price scenarios.”

A pathway to the verification of novel concepts and location of LNG-as-fuel storage tanks will also be on the agenda along with a look at the future of classification by Tom Boardley, LR’s Marine Director.

“I can’t emphasise enough just how important it is for us to help the industry in finding new ways to combat the rising price of fuel. I see Class as a key facilitator for shipowners and shipbuilders as they seek efficiencies.”