Technology Groups

Definitions of maturity levels according to uptake across the maritime industry, and degree of proven technology/principle

Mature

Proven, new or existing technology/principle, with high uptake across the industry.

Semi-mature

Proven, new or existing technology/principle, but with limited uptake across the industry.

Not mature

New unproven-, unproven existing- , or proven existing technology/principle but with very few installations and little to no operational experience.

MACHINERY TECHNOLOGIES

NAME
FUNCTION
TECHNICAL MATURITY
APPLICABILITY
Function

Optimizing auxiliary systems to actual operational profiles, not design conditions

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

De-rating an engine for reduction of the vessel's maximum speed to increase its efficiency by limiting the potential power output

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Vessels sailing 10-15% slower than design speed

Function

Automatic increase of engine efficiency through testing and tuning according to actual operational load and conditions

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Mainly for two stroke engines

Function

Manual increase of engine efficiency through testing and tuning according to actual operational load and conditions

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Exhaust gas boilers recover the heat from the exhaust gas of auxiliary engines to generate steam, hot water or heat for process heating

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Vessels without shaft generator

Function

Use of electricity to replace various modes of power consumption

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Vessels with large fluctuations in power output (ferries, offshore vessels, tugs)

Function

Increase of the auxiliary engines' load and efficiency by reducing the number of auxiliary engines running

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Produce electricity from the main propulsion engine

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels with high power needs and long transits

Function

Use of cold ironing in ports to reduce fuel consumption on power producing engines

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

For smaller vessels and in ports with developed solutions for larger vessels

Function

Improve operations and maintenance of steam plant system saving fuel on oil fired boiler

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

Mainly crude and product tankers

Function

Recover thermal energy from the exhaust gas and convert it into electrical energy

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels with engines above 10 MW

PROPULSION AND HULL IMPROVEMENTS

NAME
FUNCTION
TECHNICAL MATURITY
APPLICABILITY
Function

Use of air injection on the wetted hull surfaces to improve a ship’s hydrodynamic performance

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Most vessels in deep sea trade

Function

Removal of fouling on the hull to increase the vessel's hydrodynamic performance

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Reduction of the hull's resistance through water

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Optimizing the hull for lower resistance through water

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Retrofitting of the bulbous bow, optimizing thruster tunnels or bilge keel to reduce resistance

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Removal of fouling on the propeller

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Retrofitting the propeller to increase efficiency

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Installation of propulsion improving devices

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

ENERGY CONSUMERS

NAME
FUNCTION
TECHNICAL MATURITY
APPLICABILITY
Function

Reduction of energy consumption while discharging crude oil by use of model-based studies of the discharge operation

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Tankers

Function

Use of energy efficient lighting equipment, such as LED light, to increase efficiency and remove heat loss from light devices

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Regulating the frequency of the motors in order to adapt the motor optimized load

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

ENERGY RECOVERY

NAME
FUNCTION
TECHNICAL MATURITY
APPLICABILITY
Function

Use sails or wings to replace some of the propulsion power needed

Technical Maturity
Not mature
Applicability

Vessels with enough place on deck (general cargo, tankers, bulkers)

Function

Use Flettner rotors to generate power from wind energy

Technical Maturity
Not mature
Applicability

Dependent on trading area and sufficient free deck-surface

Function

Use a kite to replace some of the propulsion power needed

Technical Maturity
Not mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Install solar panels for conversion of solar energy to electricity

Technical Maturity
Not mature
Applicability

Dependent on trading area and sufficient free deck-surface

TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS FOR OPTIMIZING OPERATION

NAME
FUNCTION
TECHNICAL MATURITY
APPLICABILITY
Function

Use of an automatic system to control the vessel's rudder in a more energy efficient manner

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Use of optimized pitch settings and propeller speed for optimized efficiency of propulsion system

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

For vessels with controllable pitch propeller

Function

Optimize the operation in DP mode

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

Vessels with DP mode

Function

Management of the vessel's speed in the most efficient manner

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Optimizing the trim and draft to reduce the vessel's water resistance

Technical Maturity
Semi-mature
Applicability

All vessels

Function

Including weather conditions when planning a voyage

Technical Maturity
Mature
Applicability

All vessels

*This Information Portal is still under development and further images will be added. For suggestions and additional technologies to be included in the Information Portal, please use the GreenVoyage2050 Contact Form.

This Energy Efficiency Technologies Information Portal was developed in cooperation with DNV GL.

This webpage serves as an Information Portal for Energy Efficiency Technologies for Ships. IMO does not make any warranties or representations as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. View our disclaimer