A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Combined engine configuration and speed optimization for fuel savings on cruise ships
Authors: Marashian, Arash; Böling, Jari M.; Razminia, Abolhassan; Hyvönen, Jari; Vettor, Roberto; Gustafsson, Wilhelm; Pirttikangas, Mathias; Björkqvist, Jerker
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publishing place: OXFORD
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Ocean Engineering
Journal name in source: OCEAN ENGINEERING
Journal acronym: OCEAN ENG
Article number: 120387
Volume: 322
Number of pages: 13
ISSN: 0029-8018
eISSN: 1873-5258
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120387
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120387
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/484794507
In the maritime industry, optimizing energy systems for cruise ships is critical for enhancing fuel efficiency and advancing sustainability. This study presents a novel approach that integrates empirical data and computational modeling techniques with a combination of optimization of the engine configuration and the speed of the ship. A methodology aimed at minimizing fuel consumption while keeping timetable is developed using dynamic programming. The presented approach uses the NAPA Voyage Optimization API to provide information about how the ship requires propulsion power for keeping a certain speed at the weather conditions at hand. Passenger-induced hotel load and other non-propulsion auxiliary load are predicted using a machine learning model obtained from ship data. The proposed method shows in a test case fuel savings of up to 3.3% with conventional engines and 2.7% with next-generation engines. Furthermore, optimizing the sizes of engines contribute to an additional 0.5% reduction in the fuel consumption.
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Funding information in the publication:
Financial support from the Business Finland projects CPT (40323/31/2020) and INDECS (7682/31/2022) are gratefully acknowledged.
