Fujitsu Laboratories has developed technology that uses analysis of real-time ship-related data to help operators chart the most fuel-efficient path to their destination.

The company's statistical analysis technology aggregates sensor data tracking meteorological and hydrographic conditions such as wind, waves, and ocean currents, as well as engine logs and ship speed and positioning, to give a more accurate measurement of ships' overall performance in actual sea conditions than was previously possible. Fujitsu says that use of this information can allow maritime operators to determine whether it is more fuel efficient to navigate the shortest route or take a more circuitous path to avoid the effects of wind, waves and ocean currents.

Fujitsu says its technology can help ship operators improve fuel efficiency by an average of 5%. Image credit: Pixabay.Overall, the company says use of this data can help ship operators improve their fuel efficiency by an average of 5%.

To test its technology, Fujitsu applied data to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology's weather-routing simulation. In simulations, the company says the results showed that for a Pacific Ocean shipping route from Tokyo to Los Angeles, taking the optimal route based on ship performance as determined by its statistical analysis—as opposed to the most direct route—cut fuel consumption and costs as well as CO2 emissions substantially.

Fujitsu says that the technology can accommodate retroactive data from voyages for analysis to facilitate the design of ships with higher fuel efficiency. In addition, changes in ship performance after maintenance has been carried out and/or fuel-efficient technologies have been applied can be quantitatively evaluated.

The company plans to carry out live trials of its technology with a number of ship types and routes through its location information cloud service later in 2016.