As part of its continued effort to drive sustainability in the maritime industry, German container line Hapag-Lloyd succeeds in reducing both emissions and operational costs through implementing Shipshave’s In Transit Cleaning of Hull (ITCH) solution, with the results documented and confirmed by class society DNV.
In order to independently verify the benefit of proactive fouling removal, Shipshave, in cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, commissioned DNV to analyse operational performance data from two Hapag-Lloyd container ships equipped with the ITCH solution. The vessels are of 8,749 TEU and 18,800 TEU, respectively, of different ages and with different trading profiles.
The analysis included data harvested from both vessels over a 17-month period, allowing for an in-depth consideration of ‘trend over time’ to examine whether Hapag-Lloyd’s proactive approach to hull cleaning delivered a representative and consistent result. In its report following the assessment, DNV confirms that both ships achieved a significant fuel saving and reduction in emissions based on improved energy efficiency.
According to the DNV study, the actual reduction in fuel and emissions varied between them due to their different dimensions and operating profile, but both were impressive. One saw a significant 16% improvement in performance equal to a reduction in fuel consumption of approximately 8.4 tons per day. The other vessel showed better initial performance but still achieved a reduction in fuel consumption of just under 5%. The performance was maintained over time by regularly using the ITCH unit.
These figures are thought to demonstrate how Hapag-Lloyd is maintaining its leading position in sustainability and efficiency, managing fouling to reduce drag and lower emissions for long-term benefits.
Nikhilesh Bhatia, Hapag-Lloyd Director Fleet Energy Efficiency said: “We are very pleased that this analysis from DNV confirms our internal assessment of the result achieved by the implementation of ITCH. This method reflects our proactive approach to reducing emissions caused by biofouling.”
Over the assessment period, the ITCH system successfully managed hull biofouling, by initially reducing resistance. Additional fouling would accumulate over time without repeated hull cleaning. Proactive grooming prevents future degradation of vessel performance due to fouling re-growth. This long-term effect was not accounted for in the analysis and is considered likely to underestimate the total economic benefit of proactive cleaning with ITCH. Nevertheless, return on investment (ROI) from the ITCH system for the two vessels was under three months at sea in these cases.
Dr Uwe Hollenbach, Senior Principal Consultant, DNV Maritime Advisory, Ship Performance Center, Hamburg said: “The findings of this case study emphasise the critical role of minimising biofouling in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. As outlined in our recent Maritime Forecast to 2050 report, regular or proactive hull cleaning remains one of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal.”
Bhatia continued: “This is an excellent example of how Hapag-Lloyd promotes sustainable maritime transport, by implementing innovative technology leading to reduced emissions and improved financial performance both in the short and long term.”
Image: Hapag-Lloyd container vessel ‘Barzan’ (credit: Hapag-Lloyd)
