EEDI concerns to be addressed in SHOPERA project

The 2012 guidelines on the attained Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships support the implementation of IMO’s Regulations on Energy Efficiency of Ships. Serious concerns have been raised related to the sufficiency of propulsion power and steering devices to maintain safe ship manoeuvrability in adverse weather conditions. IACS was tasked by the IMO to develop relevant guidelines and, following recent IACS submissions, IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee at its latest session (MEPC 65, May 2013) adopted the Interim Guidelines for Determining Minimum Propulsion Power to Maintain the Manoeuvrability of Ships in Adverse Conditions.

It is in this context that a new three year project has been initiated with EU funding, known as SHOPERA (Energy Efficient Safe Ship Operation). The project had its first meeting earlier this month in Berlin and will ultimately conclude by submitting its recommendations to IMO. During the project four public workshops will be held on key areas of enquiry within the overall project.

The project co-ordinator is the National Technical University of Athens and academic project partners are major maritime universities from across Europe. As well as classification societies DNV/GL and RINA, the project consortium includes ship operators, research centres, shipyards and design offices.

Managing LR’s participation in the project is Dr Teo Karayannis of the Strategic Research & Technology Policy Group.
Source: Lloyd's Register