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International classification society Bureau Veritas has issued the first of its new voluntary Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) notations to the 1,500 passenger and 500-car cruise ferry Cap Finistère [pictured], operated by France’s Brittany Ferries.

Bureau Veritas introduced the SEEMP Notation scheme in July 2012. It covers a wide variety of ship types and is a tool aimed at creating meaningful energy management measures on new or existing ships, as well as helping owners target green investment effectively.

Commenting on the news, Martial Claudepierre, Marine Environmental Leader, Bureau Veritas, said: “Proactive ship owners like Brittany Ferries are voluntarily investing in eco-friendly technologies and operational practices. Recognizing those efforts and investments in the market place is vital to encouraging more widespread adoption of energy saving and CO2 emission reduction practices.

"The ability of passengers and freight operators to choose the best environmentally performing ship for any voyage, and the ability of owners to operate their ships at the maximum possible environmental efficiency, will redefine the shipping industry’s environmental landscape. From research and development through to procurement and retrofitting, industry experts are focusing their minds on finding the most effective technologies for saving energy, reducing emissions and mitigating fuel bills."

Claudepierre added: "To help transport operators choose the right ship, and to help owners operate effectively, there has to be a clear standard. That is why we at Bureau Veritas have developed a voluntary SEEMP Additional Notation. It builds on the IMO Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan. The SEEMP Additional Notation provides ship users, charterers and regulators with a tool to optimise and also make visible the environmental performance improvement of ships in terms of emissions of GHG and NOx and SOx, and will help owners to assess the potential impact of environmental investments. In this way, it will be possible to make a clearer estimate of the payback period for green investments such as trim and hull optimisation, new propeller systems, optimised maintenance periods for hull and propeller cleanings, and general fuel consumption reduction measures."

"This notation demonstrates to authorities, Port Sate Control and other stakeholders that the development and implementation of the Ship Efficiency Management Plan complies with the requirements of the IMO Guidelines," added Claudepierre.

Bureau Veritas deploys sophisticated software tools to back the notation. "Realistic goals for energy consumption reduction can be determined or planned using BV’s SEECAT energy transfer simulation model of the energy usage on board the ship," explained Claudepierre.

Frederic Pouget, a member of the board of Brittany Ferries, said: "Brittany Ferries has always been proactive on environmental issues. As a leading ferry company we believe that the SEEMP notation will contribute towards saving energy and reducing emissions. For us, the SEEMP notation is a further positive step in our energy management policy and a good way to certify all the efforts we have been making in this regard for a number of years."