SAFeCRAFT Task 5.5 focuses on developing an optimal power-management methodology for sustainable alternative-fuel systems operating under time-varying operational requirements.
Led by the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), the task aims to develop a set of operator-centric Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These KPIs will help system operators evaluate vessel performance and make real-time decisions regarding engine management.
The assessment carried out so far draws on the powertrain options and emissions models developed in WP3. These cover liquid hydrogen (LH₂) for hydrogen-fuelled propulsion engines, generators and fuel cells; ammonia (NH₃) for propulsion engines and generators; and compressed hydrogen (CH₂) for generator use.
Model-based approaches and the Digital Thread developments from WP5 are being used to assess and characterise vessel performance under different operating patterns and strategies.
The methodology also integrates MRV data to model baseline vessel behaviour across different operational profiles, including ballast, laden and port operations. The assessment considers vessel speed and draft, main and auxiliary engine loads, and environmental factors such as wind and weather.
Four main vessel types are being evaluated across both retrofit and newbuilding scenarios:
- Ro-Pax vessels and ferries
- Containerships
- Cruise vessels
- Bulk carriers
The operator-centric KPIs target four principal areas:
- Operational inputs: vessel draft and speed profiles.
- Fuel and emissions: LFO consumption in relation to CO₂ emissions, measured in tonnes per day, as well as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI).
- Operational limits: maximum range in nautical miles and maximum endurance in days when using sustainable alternative fuels. These indicators relate to onboard fuel-storage capacity and the vessel’s actual FuelEU conformity.
- Electrical demand: auxiliary engine load and efficiency, as well as total electrical demand.
Through this work, Task 5.5 is establishing a methodology for assessing vessel performance across different operating patterns, powertrain options and alternative-fuel configurations, while providing operators with practical indicators to support engine-management decisions.
