The number of Shaft Power Limitation (ShaPoLi) systems available has increased this week with new offerings from SELMA and Yara Marine.
Yara Marine Technologies has upgraded the existing FuelOpt system on board the Donsötank chemical and product tanker M/T Solero to enable daily operations that comply with the IMO’s Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) requirements. The upgrades equip the system with ShaPoLi functionality that enforces an upper limit to the vessel’s shaft power output without any modifications to the existing machinery.
In addition to ShaPoLi, the system logs all necessary performance and navigational parameters in order to store these in the vessel’s performance management and reporting software. FuelOpt can synchronise with various fleet management software solutions, such as Yara Marine’s Fleet Analytics or those developed by third parties. This enables easy creation of reports that document when, where, and why excessive power may have been used, as mandated by the EEXI framework.
Henrik Lorensson, Donsötank Technical Manager, says: “We have experienced significant fuel savings on board our vessels since the initial installation of FuelOpt in 2015, and this additional upgrade is yet another cost-effective method of ensuring compliance with incoming EEXI regulations. We are also pleased that this upgrade can be made on a system that our crew are already familiar with, so that we avoid burdening them with onboarding a new system.”
Also this week, Lloyd’s Register approved a ShaPoLi system that will be fitted onboard a 319,000 dwt very large crude carrier Aragona, operated by Neda Maritime Agency. The system, which was developed by SELMA in conjunction with Tankers Technical Department of Neda Maritime Agency, will enable the full use of available engine output.
The ShaPoLi system utilises the propeller shaft torque and rotational speed sensors to calculate and automatically limit the developed power to comply with the LR approved Technical File, whilst providing recording and emergency overriding facilities, in line with MEPC.335 (76) regulations.
“The SELMA ShaPoLi system is a pioneering intelligent control system that provides a robust and viable method of controlling the developed shaft power, seamlessly interfaced with the vessel’s existing control, while simultaneously maintaining original safety features. The system contributes to fuel consumption improvement and in turn to CO2 emissions reduction,” said Dr Panos Deligiannis, Tanker Technical Director at Neda Maritime Agency.
New EEXI and CII regulations will come into force from 1 of January 2023. These regulations aim to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping, and ShaPoLi is one potential way of reducing CO2 emissions to meet the requirements.
There are a growing number of system available on the market. In March 2022, Chris-Marine has launched a shaft power limitation solution, and, among others, Danelec Marine, Wärtsilä, Kongsberg and VAF Instruments have also developed solutions.
