BW LPG renews contract with Propulsion Dynamics’ CASPER® Operations platform after seeing consistent success.
As big data and analytics revolutionize the shipping sector, demand for Propulsion Dynamics’ CASPER Operations platform continues to grow.
Leaders in the maritime field have therefore been quick to include data analysis as part of their toolbox in order to stay one step ahead.
For the world’s leading owner and operator of LPG vessels, BW LPG, data analysis and performance data is helping them achieve their goal to be part of the solution to today’s environmental challenges, while ensuring voyage efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“For BW LPG, the CASPER Operations platform forms part of our performance monitoring analysis toolbox, allowing us to optimize fuel costs and reduce consumption, benefitting both commercial and environmental aspects for owned and chartered ships,” explains Kevin Knott, Senior Manager, Fleet Performance, BW LPG.
In 2015 BW LPG implemented the performance analysis tool CASPER Service. Three years later BW LPG began using the CASPER Operations platform – an enhanced and fully automated platform that adds a new layer of transparency to daily performance analysis and ensures easier detection of deviations to the expected performance of the vessel. This year, BW LPG renewed their contract for the new CASPER Operations platform.
“CASPER was primarily introduced to allow us to monitor and determine the amount of hull and propeller resistance of our vessels and thus the corresponding consumption at a given draft, weather and speed,” says Knott. “The various BW business units were very much involved in the development of the new CASPER Operations platform and we saw the additional benefits in continuing to use it.”
Daniel Kane, Vice President of Propulsion Dynamics’ CASPER Service, adds that the platform has helped improve the overall data quality of the BW fleet due to all parameters being constantly monitored and evaluated. “Daily deviations are now being detected by a systematic use of ship hydrodynamics at a much earlier stage, resulting in faster and more reliable analysis and thus allowing swift action to adjust performance,” says Kane.
BW LPG has noticed that sister vessels can have very different performance profiles and CASPER is helping them to identify those differences and causes early on. “Monthly detailed performance reports are produced, whilst a daily overview of performance can also be reviewed.
The platform also includes a report on the consistency of the data received from the respective vessels, which is imperative when making performance related decisions,” says Knott. “It highlights trends in performance – be it positive or negative direction – and also adds to the decision making process when deciding on possible hull cleaning and/or propeller polishing operations.”
The CASPER Service, which was introduced back in 2002, is currently in active use on hundreds of tankers, containerships, bulkers, and has become recognized worldwide as helping increase the reliability and transparency of a fuel performance.
