BV issues first energy-saving notation

BV set up its SEEMP notation in July 2012 to cover a range of ship types, create significant energy management measures on new or existing ships and help owners target green investment effectively.

According to BV, higher efficiency, lower costs and less environmental impact are all benefits for Brittany Ferries and for everyone in the transport chain.

Martial Claudepierre, marine environmental leader, Bureau Veritas, said: “Proactive ship owners like Brittany Ferries are voluntarily investing in eco-friendly technologies and operational practices. Recognising those efforts and investments in the market place is vital to encouraging more widespread adoption of energy saving and CO2 emission reduction practices.”

He added: “To help transport operators choose the right ship, and to help owners operate effectively, there has to be a clear standard. The SEEMP Additional Notation provides ship users, charterers and regulators with a tool to optimise and also make visible the environmental performance improvement of ships in terms of emissions of GHG and NOx and SOx, and will help owners to assess the potential impact of environmental investments. In this way, it will be possible to make a clearer estimate of the payback period for green investments such as trim and hull optimisation, new propeller systems, optimised maintenance periods for hull and propeller cleanings, and general fuel consumption reduction measures.”

The company says that the notation is backed by sophisticated software tools using the society’s SEECAT energy transfer simulation model of onboard energy usage to provide realistic targets for reduction.