A Maersk Seminar this week in Copenhagen focused on slow and super-slow steaming, with speakers from Maersk, MAN and Wärtsila.
Maersk has carried out comprehensive research on the technical and operational effects of slow steaming, reports Erik Ranheim, Manager of INTERTANKO's Research and Project Section, who participated. It has also researched the positive impact on the environment of a reduction in CO2 emissions.
The challenges are related to areas such as lubrication, turbocharger efficiency, increased cleaning of scavenging air space, levels of vibration and loss of fresh water production.
The overall conclusion was that the technical challenges relating to slow and super-slow steaming down to 10% engine load could be solved and that the overall experience was very good.