New project helps crew members take fuel-saving action more often

Danish chemical ship-owning and chartering company Christiania Shipping has launched behavior change service Signol in a fuel efficiency project that uses StormGeo data to understand and increase crew members’ fuel-saving behavior.

As explained, the six-month project will run across 18 chemical and gas tankers and aims to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by helping crew members to take fuel-saving action more often.

Around 70 crew members across the 18 vessels will be engaged via Signol’s web app and communication service to act on fuel-saving opportunities more often.

Signol and Christiania have identified three operational processes where crew members have untapped opportunities to save fuel.

These cover engine maintenance, the vessels’ trim, and efficient use of auxiliary engines to meet energy demand onboard.

“We are very pleased to announce the rollout of Signol’s innovative service across our entire 18 vessel fleet. Signol has worked with several highly reputable shipping companies and achieved significant reductions in vessel emissions, without the need for capital investment,” Christiania’s CEO, Fridtjof Eitzen, commented.

Signol’s service uses 17 behavior change techniques that encourage seafarers to think and act differently in their daily work. Without requiring crew members to constantly engage with Signol’s service, it can achieve significant changes to crew members’ behavior by addressing many of the factors which make fuel-saving more difficult.

“It has been a great pleasure to support our client Christiania Shipping on the implementation of Signol’s tool. Their commitment to pioneering solutions for fuel efficiency and CO2 emission reduction aligns closely with StormGeo’s mission, creating a synergy that drives innovation forward,” said Jesper W. Thomsen, sales director for Northern Europe at StormGeo.

“We believe that Signol is the missing link in the maritime efficiency equation. Personalising maritime data encourages ships’ officers to be proactive around energy efficiency, knowing that their individual actions can make a big difference in GHG emissions,” Rune Eriksen, Christiania’s chief operating manager added.

“We’re delighted that Christiania has demonstrated its commitment to decarbonisation and confidence in Signol’s capabilities by deploying the behaviour-focused service to its entire fleet. The maritime industry is increasingly looking at how operational efficiency can reduce its environmental impact, and Signol’s partnership with Christiania will add further proof points for why the power of crews shouldn’t be overlooked,” Harriet Johnson, head of maritime at Signol, said.

Christiania has signed a contract to roll over the six-month trial into a three-year commitment to use Signol’s service.

By focusing on how crew behavior affects fuel consumption, the shipowner is further developing its approach to decarbonization, which has already included data simulations, monitoring tools and AI-powered propulsion.

Last year, the company reached an agreement with the Japanese shipyard Murakami Hide for the construction of two 13,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers.