South Korea: Samsung Heavy, Hanjin Shipping to Build Smart Green Ships

Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanjin Shipping sign joint research agreement for application of VPS. System to be applied to 4,600 TEU-class container ships, reducing fuel consumption by up to 15%.

Combining green technology and an advanced navigation system as a breakthrough to overcome the economic slowdown. A ‘model case’ of cooperation between a shipbuilding company and a shipper in the domestic market.

IMO is tightening environmental regulations, including the application of guidelines for building high-efficiency ships and efficient ship operations to regulate CO2 emissions of ships, while the long-term economic slowdown and fuel price hikes are affecting the shipping industry. In this business environment, it has become critical for shippers to ensure efficient operations and reduce operating costs.

With the aim of addressing these concerns, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanjin Shipping are gearing up to pursue the joint R&D of an integrated energy management system that will systematically manage and analyze the energy consumption of ships, to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%.

By combining the technological excellence of Samsung Heavy Industries and the ship and fleet management expertise of Hanjin Shipping, the companies hope that the project can be a win-win partnership that enables both to overcome the economic slowdown.

Executive Vice President Seung-Myeon Hwangbo of the Marine Research Institute of Samsung Heavy Industries and Vice President Jae-Sun Jeong of the Marine Affairs Group of Hanjin Shipping signed an agreement to perform joint research on ship energy efficiency management and fleet management on December 17 (Thu), 2012. Over 20 representatives from both companies were in attendance at the signing ceremony, which was held at the Geoje Shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries.

VPS is a state-of-the-art technology that is designed to minimize fuel consumption through the comprehensive monitoring, analysis and management of factors affecting the fuel efficiency of ships, including the navigation route, trim, engines, motor power and emissions. It combines the functions of a navigation route optimization system, a trim optimization system and an EEOI monitoring and analysis system.

Route optimization is a technology that identifies the optimal route to a destination based on the ship performance data and weather data. If applied to a ship, route optimization can reduce fuel consumption by about 6%. Trim optimization also reduces fuel costs, by about 5%. The software calculates the optimal trim, based on the speed of the ship and the weight of cargo loaded, and then adjusts the trim by moving the location of the ballast water, maximizing efficiency regardless of conditions.

What is Trim?

Trim is the relationship of a ship’s hull to the waterline, and is one factor determining the efficiency of a ship. Before signing this agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanjin Shipping tested their trim optimization technology through joint R&D programs using 8,000 TEU-class and 10,000 TEU-class container ships.

In addition, the VPS includes an energy efficiency management program with real-time monitoring of EEOI (Energy Efficiency Operation Indicator), a ship performance evaluation and analysis program to optimize the speed and RPM of a ship.

By incorporating the EEOI into the VPS (Vessel Portal Service), which enables the monitoring of a ship’s navigation status onshore, Samsung Heavy Industries has enabled the onshore integrated management of the energy efficiency of a multiple-vessel fleet by a shipper.

This joint research will further improve the performance of VPS by reflecting Hanjin Shipping’s expertise in the area of vessel and fleet management.

What is VPS (Vessel Portal Service)?

VPS is an advanced ship navigation management system developed by Samsung Heavy Industries. It enables the real-time monitoring of various automation devices installed at ships from locations onshore, using a satellite data communications system. It also enables the detection of faults and necessary responses.

The VPS will be applied to a 4,600 TEU-class container ship of Hanjin Shipping, which will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries, in May 2013, and the full-scale test will be conducted by the end of 2016.

Executive Vice President Seung-Myeon Hwangbo of Samsung Heavy Industries said, “As we have our own solution for system configuration, we have a high level of technology independence. We are now able to improve the completeness of the system through joint research with Hanjin Shipping, and verify the long-term effects of actually applying the system to vessels. This cooperation will set a great example of how a domestic shipbuilder and a shipper can work together to overcome the economic recession.”

IMO has announced that the MBM (Market Base Measurement) will be completed by 2015 and introduced starting in 2016 to reduce the carbon emissions produced by ships, raising the profile of energy management and green ships in the shipbuilding industry and the shipping industry.