Study on tests and trials of EEDI

The main objective of the contract is to provide EMSA with a technical study on the EEDI, in order to refine the EEDI application for certain categories of RoRo ships (volume and weight carriers) and to identify the potential application of the EEDI or any alternative method to improve energy efficiency of purpose built vessels from a technical and design point of view.

IMO  has  agreed  on  the  development  of  a  CO2  design  index  for  new  ships,  the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). This index separates technical and design based  aspects  from  operational  and  commercial  aspects  and  the  core  of  the indexing  formula  is  given  by  the  ratio  between  environmental  burden  (=  CO2 emissions) and benefit for the society (= work performed).

The EEDI is so far the most advanced element in the IMO discussion to reduce CO2 emissions from ships. With a limited effect on short term, it is assumed that the EEDI applied on conventional design and propelled ships will contribute on a longer term  to  the  global  effort  to  reduce  CO2  emissions  from  the  shipping  sector  with new ships built in accordance with the EEDI entering into operation. At MEPC 60 (March 2010), it was decided that the EEDI should be further developed for RoRo ships, and a two years period was agreed for this development.

Deltamarin’s commission includes firstly the refinement of the EEDI formula for RoRo (volume and weight carriers) and RoPax vessels. In this context Deltamarin shall assess the current baselines approach for volume and weight carriers and consider the various IMO submissions at previous MEPC. If necessary, a refinement/adjustment of the baselines for the volume and weight carriers shall be proposed. Deltamarin shall also identify  possible  correction factors  to  be  included  in  the  EEDI  formula  for RoRo and RoPax vessels. In case no correction factor is suitable, Deltamarin shall develop an alternative approach to address Energy Efficiency for the applicable vessel types, arrange test/trials of the proposed approach, and draw conclusions on its suitability. The study will also include a comparative analysis looking at the GHG emission reduction potential between the current EEDI approach and the potential new proposal.

Secondly Deltamarin shall develop a frame to address the energy efficiency of purpose built vessels and specialized ships. Based on representative samples establishing baselines for these vessel categories, requirements for any additional correction factors will be identified. The main goal will be to develop methods on how to improve the energy efficiency of these vessels at the design phase.

Basis of the work is Deltamarin’s extensive design experience of commercial vessels, good contacts with both European and Asian yards, contacts with interest groups such as Interferry and CLIA, extensive knowledge and good statistical information of built vessels.