Blue Visby trials show strong CO2 emissions savings

These trials which took place in March and April 2024, saw the vessels under voyage charter to Blue Visby Consortium member CBH Group, performing ballast voyages to CBH Group’s Kwinana Grain Terminal, Australia.

“Decarbonisation is unattainable without energy efficiency, and energy efficiency is impossible if ships continue to Sail Fast Then Wait,” said Haris Zografakis and Pekka Pakkanen, co-ordinators of the Blue Visby Consortium.

”The CBH Prototype Trials demonstrate that the Blue Visby Solution will be a central element of any successful decarbonisation strategy for all maritime stakeholders: shipowners, charterers, traders, cargo interests, terminals and ports.”

Extensive testing

During the trials, a number of alternative benchmarks were tested in this regard involving speed, RPM, laycan dates and “Business As Usual” assumptions.

The parties also had a choice as to whether to calculate the financial value of fuel savings and of the prolongation of the ocean passage by using contract rates or market rates provided by the Baltic Exchanges.

Levels of CO2 savings in the CBH Prototype Trials were consistent with studies that had been conducted previously, firstly during the Pilot Program in 2023, during which ten voyages produced an average of potential CO2 savings of 18.9%.

Secondly, in a series of hindcast simulations of 284 voyages in November 2021-August 2023, which had produced potential CO2 savings of 25.6% on average.

In the course of these prototype trials, all components of the Blue Visby Solution were deployed and subjected to rigorous testing: software, technical and operational system, as well as the benefit-sharing mechanism (“Blue GA”).

It was also demonstrated that the Blue Visby Solution does not interfere with weather routing, voyage planning or the timing of berthing – all of which were left in the hands of the participants. Indeed, the robustness of the operational side of the Blue Visby Solution prevented disruption of the prototype trial during a time when one of the vessels needed to deviate.

The CBH Prototype Trials are part of a wider programme across many geographical areas and market segments.

Prototype trials with a wider group of participants will be conducted in the coming months, as the R&D phase of the Blue Visby is completed and commercial deployment begins.