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Balancing EEXI and CII compliance

While EEXI compliance is relatively straightforward and requires a one-time modification to the existing vessel, CII compliance necessitates a more complex approach.  

CII incentivises greener operations through demonstrable improvement. Therefore, ship operators will need to implement a continuous improvement process to: 

• Analyze the operating methods
• Estimate the required operational level of carbon intensity
• Adapt the processes year-on-year to meet a decided upon annual reduction factor

Ship-owners and operators undertaking EEXI compliance will likely need to create a parallel Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for continuous improvement throughout the remaining lifespan of the vessel.  

Our Vessel Optimization solutions can help you achieve EEXI and CII compliance, as well as an effective SEEMP, with flexible technologies that are likely to be compatible with further vessel upgrades. 

EEXI

EEXI is applicable to all vessels above 400 GT falling under MARPOL Annex VI that were not previously subject to the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). The regulation addresses the technical efficiency of vessels and will potentially necessitate a one-time technical upgrade to meet the required standards for compliance.  

Recommended measures for compliance currently include engine power limitation (EPL), shaft power limitation (ShaPoLi), propulsion optimization, and energy-saving devices. Among these measures, derating the power output will likely be the most efficient solution for those looking at fleet-wide installations. 

What to consider

The power limit will be set based on calculations related to the vessel’s design, and its impact will depend on the vessel’s distribution of power usage. Some operators may discover that reducing power and speed is viable, while others may find loss of speed to be a significant challenge to operations. In both cases enhanced efficiency will be vital.  

This is why ShaPoLi retains a distinct advantage over EPL; ShaPoLi ensures the power output from the engine regardless of the changing energy content of the fuel used or the engine’s condition. 

FuelOpt is a smart way to derate engine power output through ShaPoLi

Yara Marine’s propulsion optimization system FuelOpt provides an integrated ShaPoLi feature that complies with the EEXI framework. The system enhances vessel efficiency while minimizing the impact of engine or shaft power limitations on daily operations.  

FuelOpt allows for power limitation by simply setting an upper limit to shaft power output without any modification to existing machinery. It also includes a crew override option for safety purposes as a standard feature, allowing access to the engine’s full power if needed. 

FuelOpt also gathers vast volumes of vessel data in real-time from signals on board, particularly from the propulsion line and engine. This data is then integrated into Fleet Analytics – our smart performance management and reporting system – or any existing, third-party performance tool used by the ship operator. FuelOpt data facilitates the reporting of power overuse as stipulated in the EEXI framework. 

CII

CII applies to vessels of 5,000 gross tonnage and above, and focuses on operational efficiency. Vessels are given an annual rating (ranging from A to E) based on how efficiently they transport goods or passengers, with calculations covering grams of CO2 emitted per cargo carrying capacity and nautical mile.  

With the year-on-year improvement goals, CII is designed to encourage ship operators to demonstrate consistent improvement in operational efficiency across their fleet to achieve higher vessel ratings. These rating thresholds are likely to become increasingly strict towards 2030.  

What to consider

While low-carbon fuels and green technologies can improve operations and reduce emissions, automatic data logging is another vital aspect of CII compliance, since it will be necessary to demonstrate consistent improvement in operations.

Ship-owners and operators will need to use vessel data to identify potential means of efficiency improvement and deliver the necessary results. This means that both performance management and a propulsion optimization system will become integral parts of daily operations. 

Vessels requiring CII compliance are already subject to regulations that cover a data collection system for fuel oil consumption. Therefore, the best way forward is to ensure that the monitoring system assists the ship operator record CII compliance, and enables them to apply their chosen compliance plan precisely and effectively. 

Yara Marine’s Vessel Optimization solutions offer foresight for operations

The combination of FuelOpt’s data gathering and Fleet Analytics’ data processing equips ship operators with performance insights as well as a cutting edge performance management tool.  

These Vessel Optimization solutions evaluate fuel consumption data while providing an automation tool for precise control of operational parameters. They track and demonstrate improvements, thereby meeting the criteria for CII compliance.

Furthermore, these solutions are very “social” and can easily be integrated with other systems, making it possible to incorporate complementary technologies in the future. 

Additional possibilities

The vast amount of data collected offers further benefits when combined with AI-powered ship operations, enabling ship operators to close the continuous improvement loop.

Our Route Pilot AI technology uses digital twin modelling to determine the most energy-efficient operations. The system calculates the optimal operational parameters for an upcoming voyage while accounting for forecasted environmental conditions and planned route.

Route Pilot AI allows us to broaden the support we offer ship-owners and operators in their quest for greener and more efficient operations. Additionally, it enables forecasting of future voyages’ impact on CII. 

Ship-owners and operators seeking to maximize green operations may also want to consider wind propulsion systems. The BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies is designed to utilize wind energy in a very effective manner. These large, rigid wingsails are fitted to the deck of a vessel to harness the power of the wind, thereby enabling reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of up to 30%.  

By accounting for vessel designs, the fitting of the sails can be adjusted to the required characteristics for maximal wind-assisted vessel performance. The installation of WindWings will result in direct improvements of a vessel’s EEXI.