First with BV’s energy-saving notation

According to BV, higher efficiency, lower costs and less environmental impact are all benefits for Brittany Ferries and for everyone in the transport chain. BV’s SEEMP Notation scheme was launched in July 2012, to cover a variety of ship types and act as a tool for creating meaningful energy management measures on new or existing ships. BV says that the notation is backed by sophisticated software tools, using the scocity’s SEECAT energy transfer simulation model of onboard energy usage to provide realistic targets for reduction.

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

Mr Claudepierre adds, “To help transport operators choose the right ship, and to help owners operate effectively, there has to be a clear standard. That is why we at Bureau Veritas have developed a voluntary SEEMP Additional Notation. It builds on the IMO Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan. 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.”

Frederic Pouget, a member of the board of Brittany Ferries, said: “Brittany Ferries has always been proactive on environmental issues. As a leading ferry company we believe that the SEEMP notation will contribute towards saving energy and reducing emissions. For us, the SEEMP notation is a further positive step in our energy management policy and a good way to certify all the efforts we have been making in this regard for a number of years.”