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ESL Shipping, steel producer SSAB, and the Port of Oxelösund, Sweden, have begun virtual arrival trials in the Luleå-Oxelösund route along the Gulf of Bothnia, Sweden.
Virtual arrival helps a vessel operator to know when and by how much to reduce the speed of its vessel to meet a revised arrival time in the event of a delay at the vessel’s assigned berth. This avoids the vessel sailing at full speed and arriving at an unavailable berth where it will have to tender. This increases fuel consumption and emissions, wastes time, and adds to port congestion. By reducing speed of sailing, the vessel can cut its fuel consumption and only arrive at the berth once it is available.
In the trial led by ESL Shipping, the company noted that regardless of the actual arrival time, the vessel still retains its place in the line-up based on the arrival time in normal service speed. In addition to decreased environmental footprint, virtual arrival gives a port better tools for more reliable scheduling and line-up of vessels. The difference between the consumption on normal speed and actual consumption as a result of virtual arrival is compared and the savings are shared between ESL Shipping and the customer.
The results of the Luleå-Oxelösund have so far proven a reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption is possible.
“The aim is to extend the virtual arrival to other common trade lines after the summer. It is delightful to see that other customers have shown strong interest in the concept too”, said Kirsi Ylärinne, operations director at ESL Shipping.
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This article has been posted as is from Source