Snapshots from Evelyn Maersk
Wednesday, 14 January 2009. Evelyn Maersk is in the Mediterranean en route from Yantian in China to Algeciras in Spain on Maersk Line’s AE7 (Asia-Europe) service. On board are 7,345 containers the equivalent of 12,083 TEU. They were loaded in China and contain a wide variety of goods destined for European consumers.
A new fuel saving record
On this voyage, good planning will enable Evelyn Maersk to save approximately 150 tons (equivalent to 4% lower consumption) of bunker fuel on the voyage from Yantian to Algeciras. It is a new record for Evelyn Maersk. But it does not stop there. As Captain Niels Beyer Nielsen says, “That is also a record to break!” Therefore - a week before the vessel starts the voyage back to China - Second Officer Stanford Cardoz is already busy planning. Not only to ensure a safe passage, but also to identify bunker saving opportunities. In cooperation with operational departments on shore, the voyage and schedule are constantly reviewed with an eye on cutting down any type of slack time. The possibility to depart earlier and/or avoid waiting for berthing upon arrival gives Evelyn better opportunities to sail at economical speeds and save bunker fuel.
What is cooking?
What are the two main topics for discussion onboard a vessel? According to Chief Steward Hedy Lundt, the room temperature and the menu. While the temperature is rather simple to change, it takes a lot of creativity to plan three meals per day for a multinational crew on a limited budget of USD 8-9 per day per person and with no access to fresh supplies for up to 40 days. Fortunately, Chief Stewards are creative. This is also reflected in the way Hedy defines her role on Evelyn Maersk. “I see myself as a kind of Welfare Officer onboard. If somebody is unhappy, I am there, ready to listen and give advice,” says Hedy Lundt.
Saving energy on the move
Waste Heat Recovery is the top feature, when it comes to demonstrating energy efficiency on Evelyn Maersk. Instead of sending all the exhaust gas up the funnel, some of it is reused to make steam and thereby more power to the engine. Although it is not possible to run the system constantly, and especially not at lower speeds such as 18 knots, it can at optimum conditions save up to 10% fuel, explains Second Engineer Poul Henrik Astrup.
Smooth operations
Maintenance is key for ensuring safe and secure cargo operations. Dayman Aldrin Panopio is greasing the semi-automatic twist locks to ensure they function as intended. A twist lock that does not lock or release properly is not only an operational inconvenience, but may also turn into a safety hazard. The lubricant is grease recycled from the steering gear. By reusing the grease, Evelyn saves money and the need to store and offload the grease. A creative, simple, and environmentally friendly solution.
Tags: algeciras, evelyn maersk, secure cargo, yantian
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Cargo & Shipping News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.