MMT - Experts & Thought Leaders

Manta Marine Technologies (MMT) has unlocked further fuel and emissions savings from its popular FuelOpt™ system with the addition of the trim optimisation advisory system - TrimSense™. Available as a simple added feature to existing FuelOpt™ installations, TrimSense™ has the potential to deliver fuel savings of 1-4%. TrimSense™ also comes with the additional benefit of no commercial downtime during installations. The system integrates easily and assists with fuel and emissions reporting, and can be utilised alongside AI technologies for calculating operational voyage parameters. Customers with TrimSense™ Richard Engelhart Bjercke, MMT Chief Commercial Officer, says, "Having recently celebrated over 400 sales of FuelOpt™, MMT is proud to bring greater cost savings, emissions reduction and operational optimisation to its customers with TrimSense™." He adds, "We continue to develop and innovate across our suite of optimisation solutions, enabling ship owners and operators to provide support to their crews, while also reaping the commercial and regulatory compliance benefits of lower fuel costs and reduced carbon emissions." How TrimSense™ Works TrimSense™ collects accurate, real-time data from high-frequency inclination sensors TrimSense™ collects accurate, real-time data from high-frequency inclination sensors, using a processing algorithm to display constant measurements of trim – the difference between the forward and aft draught of a vessel.  Changes in trim affect vessel performance, and by optimising trim accounting for draught and vessel speed, propulsion power requirements can be lowered and fuel saved. The system is set up with defined optimal trim values which can be determined by towing tank tests, historical data, or computational fluid dynamics. Where existing values are not available, MMT can assist in providing optimal trim values to help shipowners access the benefits of TrimSense™. FuelOpt™ bridge display panel The FuelOpt™ bridge display panel offers clear visual feedback on trim performance, delivering decision-making support to the crew and enabling vessel operation according to Best Practices. Data from TrimSense™ is also made available to other systems such as MMT’s Fleet Analytics™ performance management and reporting tool. "Our ongoing development ensures crews will continue to have the latest technology to maximise the performance of their vessels, while also ensuring safety. As the prices of traditional and low carbon fuels increase, investments in operational efficiency will continue to bring returns, regardless of which fuel is in the ship’s tanks," explains Richard Engelhart Bjercke.

Manta Marine Technologies (formerly known as Yara Marine Technologies, YMT) has successfully completed the installation and commissioning of onboard shore power systems for three Finnlines vessels: the Finnlady, the Finnmaid and the Finnstar.  These projects cement Manta Marine Technologies’ reputation as a provider of turnkey shore power solutions, which are likely to see higher take-up by the maritime sector as it transitions to a low and zero-carbon future. Finnlines RoPax vessels The installations, onboard RINA-classed Finnlines RoPax vessels Finnstar, Finnmaid and Finnlady support Finnlines’ commitment to decarbonise their fleet and reduce the environmental impact on shore-side communities. The installations, onboard RINA-classed Finnlines RoPax vessels Finnstar, Finnmaid and Finnlady Thomas Doepel, Finnlines Deputy CEO Finnlines, said, “Finnlines has a long history of meeting strategic environmental aims by consistently setting short-term goals to reach excellent long-term results. We are proud to have partnered with Manta Marine Technologies on this pioneering initiative, and we are confident that shore power will play a crucial role in reducing our environmental footprint and GHG emissions.” Vessels for shore power Ina Reksten, Manta Marine Technologies CEO, said, “Shore power is a valuable tool for shipowners looking to improve the environmental credentials of their vessels and I’m thrilled that our customer Finnlines have had such a positive experience with our team. We look forward to more ship owners boosting their green credentials through the use of our turnkey shore power solution as well as other products in Manta Marine’s portfolio.” Manta Marine Technologies’ skilled shore power team worked closely with Finnlines to minimise vessel downtime and ensure that the new equipment was installed as seamlessly as possible. The former worked to prepare the vessels for shore power, while Finnlines — in collaboration with the port authorities — developed a cable management system for the quayside. Initial power transfer trial took MMT team ensured that the detailed plan was met simultaneously and performed FATs The first phase of the installations took place in the spring of 2023 and involved some preparatory work being performed while the vessels were sailing, as well as when the vessels were alongside. The MMT team ensured that the detailed design was completed simultaneously and performed FATs.  The initial power transfer trial took place onboard the Finnmaid at the Port of Helsinki in December 2023 and has demonstrated that the system performs exactly as expected. Retrofit installations “The installation took 10 months from start to completion on the first vessel, but this is due to specific long-lead items back in 2022,” explains Carl Fredrik Erikson, responsible for Manta Marine Technologies’ Shore Power Project Management, adding that installation times will be reduced due to shorter delivery time now. “That said, they could also become longer if the whole market decides to invest at the same time,” he continues, pointing out that a number of operators are considering retrofit installations for their fleets. Class-approved and well-functioning shore power system Carl Fredrik Erikson adds, “Our class-approved and well-functioning shore power system is relatively unique for complex high-voltage shore power retrofits. We believe that our engineering approach aligns very well with the needs of the existing global fleet.”  This successful project was followed by the successful commissioning of the Finnlady in the beginning of 2024, followed closely by the Finnstar.

Manta Marine Technologies (MMT) has secured its fourth hundredth vessel contract for its industry-pioneering automated propulsion optimisation technology system, FuelOpt™. The latest contract is subscription-based and was signed in February 2024 between MMT and J.J. Ugland for an installation onboard their 60,000 DWT bulk carrier, the M.V. Jorita. Richard Engelhart Bjercke, Chief Commercial Officer at Manta Marine Technologies, said “We are very proud to have signed our 400th FuelOpt™ contract — each of which is a testament to the trust companies and crews have put in us. Our industry is rapidly working towards a greener and more sustainable future, and we are eager to enable that process with a range of solutions that can offer real results that meet operators at their needs while continuing to advance their commercial interests.” Propulsion optimisation system Once the crew enters the desired setpoints and activates the system from the intuitive bridge panel FuelOpt™ allows vessels to achieve steady and predictable shaft power, removing costly variations caused by human operational factors and freeing crew up to focus on other essential tasks. Once the crew enters the desired setpoints and activates the system from the intuitive bridge panel, the system dynamically controls the propulsion output, ensuring that power is always optimised based on the settings defined and changing environmental conditions. Fuel-agnostic, FuelOpt™ can be utilised on vessels using conventional or alternative fuels, making it a safe choice for ship owners looking to futureproof their investment. The system also integrates easily and assists with fuel and emissions reporting, and can be utilised alongside AI technologies for routeing. For vessels utilising hybrid propulsion technologies, such as wind-assisted propulsion, the automated propulsion optimisation system assists the vessel in dynamically maintaining a target state, automating adjustments to account for changes in surrounding conditions while consuming minimal fuel. Onboard vessels with FPP The system easily operates onboard vessels with fixed-pitch propellers, such as the M.V. Jorita The system easily operates onboard vessels with fixed pitch propellers (FPP) — such as the M.V. Jorita — as well as onboard vessels with controllable pitch propellers (CPP) to provide the greatest amount of thrust with the least expenditure of power. Gordon Eugen Andersen, Technical Manager at Ugland Marine Services, said, “By placing energy-efficiency and lowered emissions at the heart of our commercial strategy, Ugland Marine Services is committed to advancing in line with shipping’s ambitious decarbonisation targets. The installation of FuelOpt™ onboard the M.V. Jorita is a key step in this journey, and we look forward to working closely with Manta Marine Technologies in the future to unlock the full range of benefits associated with this technology.” Key consideration for operators Independent testing has confirmed that FuelOpt™ can provide fuel savings of up to 10% and over, making the most of every drop of fuel a vessel uses — a key consideration for operators as fuel costs continue to rise. The maximised and efficient use of fuel also assists operators stay in line with increasingly stringent emissions reductions regulations like the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). "We pride ourselves on a collaborative customer experience. We have an expanded fleet performance team to help our customers maximise benefits from our products and services and also work closely with classification societies, such as DNV, to verify savings onboard,” said Bjercke.