Blue Visby Solution prototype trails result in reducing CO2 emissions

The first trials of the Blue Visby Solution prototype have claimed to have reduced CO2 emissions by 17.3% on average during voyages on two bulkers chartered to CBH Group, a Blue Visby Consortium member.

According to available data, the Blue Visby Solution, a project best described as a mitigation tool for sail-fast-then-wait operations, had its first trials in March and April 2024 with the bulk carriers Gerdt Oldendorff and Begonia. The two vessels performed ballast voyages to CBH Group’s Kwinana Grain Terminal in Australia.

The trials resulted in CO2 savings of 28.2% for the Gerdt Oldendorff and 12.9% for the Begonia, resulting in an average savings of 17.3% at a speed of 14 knots. 

In the case of the Gerdt Oldendorff, the prototype trial resulted in CO2 savings of 7.9% measured against the vessels’ intended voyage speed of 12 knots. If the ship increased its speed to 14 knots potential CO2 savings would have been 28.2%. Several benchmarks regarding speed were tested – RPM, laycan dates, and business-as-usual situations. The parties also had a choice as to whether to calculate the financial value of fuel savings and of the prolongation of the ocean passage by using contract rates or market rates provided by the Baltic Exchanges.

The level of CO2 savings in the trials was consistent with studies that had been conducted previously during the pilot program in 2023, during which ten voyages produced an average of potential CO2 savings of 18.9% as well as a series of hindcast simulations of 284 voyages from November 2021 until August 2023, which produced potential CO2 savings of 25.6% on average.

The Blue Visby Solution also did not interfere with weather routing, voyage planning or the timing of berthing – all of which were left in the hands of the participants.

The data collected during the pilot program in 2023 and the trials in 2024  are consistent with earlier studies and hindcast simulations of 20,580 voyages worldwide of 3,651 panamax vessels in 2022, which showed potential CO2 savings by applying the Blue Visby Solution in the order of 23.2% on average.

Prototype trials with a wider group of participants will be conducted in the coming months, as the R&D phase of the Blue Visby is completed and commercial deployment begins.

Both the virtual pilot program and the prototype trials will continue in the coming months, we are on track for commercial deployment in 2024.