FleetMon collaborates with worldwide logistics and shipping companies and with federal ministries, port authorities, and independent research institutes. Our extensive network, combined with over 13 years of experience, reveals our expertise and deep insights into vessel tracking and the shipping industry. Of course, FleetMon is aware of the Greenhouse gas emissions debate and various parties’ viewpoints concerning the shipping industry’s effects on climate change and worldwide environmental pollution. Rather than talk, FleetMon actively supports transparency of CO2 emissions caused by commercial shipping.

In March 2019, FleetMon published a press release about EmissionSEA (EMS), a significant research project. EmissionSEA is funded with around 1.5 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). Since 2016, BMVI has supported Research & Development projects related to digital data-based applications for Mobility 4.0 with a research initiative called mFUND. Besides EMS, various inspiring projects to innovate future Mobility are part of mFUND.

EmissionSEA has been running since August 2018. On 11th December, a 2nd project meeting took place in Hamburg. FleetMon, JAKOTA Design Group, University of Applied Sciences in Wismar, and German Aerospace Center (DLR) participated in the conference at Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics (CML) being the host of the event. All research partners of EmissionSEA project are ambitious and work hard to present valid results by the end of 2020. The latest developments, achievements, and challenges have been discussed during the meeting. So far, the project is only slightly behind schedule.

On 30th January, representatives of CML visited the FleetMon headquarters to discuss how to proceed with the generated code. Another topic discussed is how to treat missing vessel data and how to integrate weather data into the EmissionSEA models. Project partners and developers of FleetMon and Fraunhofer CML participated in the workshop and discussed various approaches to apply the best solution.

The EmissionSEA project aims to develop a software prototype based on AIS data that determines and evaluates fuel consumption and, thus, CO2 emissions of a vessel.

Review: Since 1st January 2018, all owners of ships exceeding 5,000 gross tonnages have been obliged to monitor CO2 emissions for each ship on a per voyage and annual basis. Emissions have to be reported to the EU Commission. The reporting obligation applies to the entire journey of vessels sailing in and through European waters.

To understand the whole situation, one needs to know the following: Reported CO2 emissions of a vessel are based on tank dippings and estimations rather than on valid calculations. It’s unknown if the amount of CO2 emissions reported by ship owners is correct or not. The reported values might be very different from reality.

Contributing to EMS is an essential step toward our vision to drive global maritime transparency. EmissionSEA project aims to develop an alternative method to calculate the CO2 emissions of ships. With a calculated reference value, the historical emission data reported can be evaluated. AIS data, vessel type data, machine power data, and dynamic data, e.g., weather and current data, are used to calculate engine capacity and estimate the fuel consumption of a vessel. Both variables are needed to calculate CO2 emissions. The results of the EMS project contribute to fleet performance monitoring. Calculated CO2 emissions of ships relate to a specific distance or a speed curve.

By calculating an ideal route and speed, a target-actual comparison is possible, which results in evaluating the efficiency and performance of vessels and fleets. Shipping companies are enabled to compare their fleets to fleets of other operators.

An important date is coming up: On 30th April 2020, the interim report is due. Besides, on the same day, the parties have to propound evidence that the software prototype being the outcome of the research project, will be real-time capable.

We keep you updated on the progress of EmissionSEA, which is only one of several research projects (e.g., MERMAID project) FleetMon contributes to with AIS and vessel data.