Optimising vessel performance has always been on our agenda. Increasing regulation, fluctuations in bunker prices and a growing concern for the global environmental impact of shipping has led to an even higher focus on the way vessels operate. This increased pressure forces shipping companies to improve vessels' technical and operational efficiency even further.

The design of a ship, the shape of its hull, its propulsion systems, onboard communications, route optimisation and navigation software, maintenance, fuel type, environmental technology and dry-docking procedures are just some of the variables that will have a significant impact on a vessel's energy efficiency, fuel consumption and overall cost of operation. Even marginal improvements in these areas can combine to create a material difference to a company's bottom line. An up-to-date insight into current and future regulations, such as the upcoming CO2 regulations, Global Sulphur Cap, NOx Tier III, Ballast Water, Biofouling regulations is imperative. Ship owners need to analyse the impact of the regulations, explore necessary vessel adjustments, and evaluate performance implications.

There is an ever-growing list of actors with a stake in a vessel's performance management. Ship owners, cargo owners, cargo operators, pool operators, charter companies, technical managers, crew, banks, investors and insurance companies will have to deal with transparency and evidence of commitment to efficiency measures in their contracts. We will look at how these different interests affect one another.  

Through two defined plenary sessions and informative question and answer panel sessions, we will focus on practical methods, and will bring together representatives to discuss vessel performance optimisation to achieve operational excellence.

Session 1: Ship Planning and Design for Optimal Efficiency A vessel should be designed optimally for the operations that it will encounter over its lifetime. There has been much change in the industry over the last five to seven years, and focus on efficient designs has increased significantly. Experts in ship operations and ship design will use this session to discuss how design methods have improved, both in setting new requirements to efficient tonnage and also in today's ship design methods.

Session 2: Fleet Performance Management Companies are slowly learning how to manage new anti-fouling coatings, quality of dry-dockings, how and when to conduct hull cleanings, and propeller polishing. Hull and propeller degradation during and after a dry-docking period is a major contributor to ship underperformance, but other factors also leave for improvement; engine efficiency, power production and power consumption, paint, use of boilers, shaft generators, consumption in harbours - these all have an impact on the efficiency of the typical merchant fleet.