EMMA system will help monitor, analyse and optimise ships' energy consumption in real time
By
Rebecca Gibson |
AIDA Cruises has installed ABB’s energy management software on its ships to help monitor, analyse and optimise their energy consumption in real time.
ABB’s EMMA system creates a database of operational and technical information and also provides real-time support to ensure the ship is operated to the optimum level.
The system is directly linked to AIDA’s onshore offices and the ships’ onboard automation systems. Overall, 500 signals per second are transmitted from the ship’s automation system to the EMMA virtual machine. It tracks seven top-level categories including propulsion power, propulsion efficiency, vessel trim, hotel and auxiliary power, air condition power per person, specific fuel oil consumption of the main diesel generators and total fuel consumption. This enables crew to alter certain systems, such as engine configuration or route planning, to ensure the ship is operating efficiently.
“At AIDA we’ve realised that in order to achieve maximum efficiency, we must approach energy management onboard clinically and scientifically,” said Jens Lassen, senior vice president of marine operations at AIDA. “This is why we installed ABB`s EMMA. The biggest benefit of having such an advanced energy management system onboard is that mathematically analysed key performance indicators, not just raw data, are at your fingertips.”
The EMMA system has already been set up and commissioned on six AIDA ships and has already allowed the line identify technical improvements and ways to optimise operations. The system will be installed on the rest of the fleet over the coming months.
“AIDA is recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly cruise operators and the company sets high demands for the solutions it deploys onboard the vessels,” said Heikki Soljama, managing director for ABB’s marine and ports business. “We are pleased that AIDA selected ABB’s EMMA energy monitoring and management system to further improve the environmental footprint of its fleet.”