ABB to Supply Energy Management Systems to Spain-Balearics Ferry

Power and automation technology group ABB informs it has won an order from Spanish ferry operator Baleària to supply energy management systems for one of its largest vessels. It is expected that the system will improve vessel’s fuel efficiency over 2 per cent.

ABB’s advisory software will be installed onboard the ferry Martin i Soler, with an option to extend the project to two further vessels in the Baleària fleet.

ABB explain that Baleària operates ferries connecting the four Balearic Islands to mainland Spain, as well as providing daily inter-island sailings. The company also operates in the Strait of Gibraltar and between the U.S. and the Bahamas. Baleària’s business focuses on the regular maritime transport of passengers and cargo with 17 vessels in service.

Baleària’s installation will cover dynamic trim optimization and hull condition monitoring. The package will help the vessel operator to optimize required propulsive power and forecast hull and propeller fouling, with both contributing to reduced fuel consumption. By reducing fuel consumption, ABB will also help Baleària to reduce the vessel’s environmental emissions.

ABB’s trim optimization system dynamically measures actual trim and advises the crew on steering adjustments via easy-to-understand and user-friendly displays. All data generated onboard is transferred to a cloud-based application for vessel benchmarking. This can provide management onshore with full visibility of energy consumption across the entire fleet.

“Baleària and ABB are expecting over 2% savings in propulsion power used at sea through the installation of the trim optimization system and hull monitoring, which will have the same impact in the fuel consumption and consequently reduce emissions.” says Mr. Guillermo Alomar, Baleària’s, Fleet Manager.