AUXILIARY ENGINE
Smarter A/E usage cuts fuel use in port by up to 15%
Monitoring revealed up to 15% excess fuel use during port stays. Smarter A/E usage reduced fuel, running hours, and maintenance.
Chart insights
Vessel A
The chart highlights ~15% overconsumption in port, with a temporary reduction during dry-docking between August and October. It also shows a clear opportunity to optimize operations by running a single A/E within 500–900 kW, rather than two.
Vessel B
Close monitoring and small operational adjustments have improved efficiency, with the vessel running reliably on a single auxiliary engine (AE) at loads up to 1000 kW. The data also shows that multiple AEs are primarily used out of routine—typically started 30–60 minutes before departure—highlighting how greater insight can challenge standard practices and enable more efficient, condition-based decisions.
Identifying the inefficiency
Analysis identified a consistent pattern: more A/Es were running than required while in port. This led not only to increased fuel consumption, but also unnecessary running hours, accelerating maintenance intervals for standby engines.
Understanding the drivers
A deeper breakdown of the data showed that vessels can operate efficiently on a single A/E within optimal load ranges. Despite this, multiple engines were often in use due to established practices and safety margins, except in clearly defined situations such as departure preparation.
From insight to action
Through continuous monitoring and data-driven recommendations, operating practices were adjusted. This included optimizing engine loading and limiting the use of additional A/Es to when they were operationally required.
Delivering measurable impact
The impact was immediate and measurable: reduced fuel consumption and lower running hours. These results reinforced new ways of working onboard, supporting lasting behavioral change and forming the foundation for scalable best practice across the fleet.
Establishing best practice
This use case demonstrates how turning operational insight into action not only improves performance, but also drives behavioral change that enables best practice to be implemented and sustained across a fleet.
It also shows a clear opportunity to optimize operations by running a single A/E within 500–900 kW, rather than two on (250 - 450 kW each).
