Decarbonisation and digital twins: simulation for sustainable shipping Simulation technology has the potential tomake a significant contribution to maritime decarbonisation
Patrick Ryan ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
O ne of the biggest problems for shipowners seeking to understand how environmental regulation will impact the performance of their fleets in future is uncertainty. While the regulatory framework is in place, changes that tighten the requirements or new regional rules have the potential to disrupt investment decisions. Owners want to know their options, whether for regulatory compliance or conformance with voluntary market measures. And they also need to understand when new fuels or technologies will enable them to safely comply and keep their vessels competitive. But whereas even a few years ago the technology needed to make such judgements was incomplete or unreliable, vessel operators these days have much more information at their disposal. What they need is the means to turn data into decisions.
Understanding simulation Data’s value is sometimes likened to gold or is described as ‘the new oil’, but we should really think of data as potential energy. The tool that turns it into usable kinetic energy, so it can be put to work on the toughest challenges facing the industry, is simulation. Simulation technology (SIM) is the application of multi-physics models, sometimes in quite simple form, and it is already a well-established technique in other industrial applications. It is used in automotive design to create greener vehicles, and it offers the potential for new ways of working to advance innovation for cleaner vessels too. For new-building ship design, SIM-based energy efficiency evaluation supports optimisation of the propulsion system, provides system-level assessment of fuel consumption, and supports life-cycle cost analysis, as well as detailed design comparison and optimisation of equipment parameters. For existing vessels, the
ABS SIM Vessel Model
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