First vessel arrival using MITSUI E&S's new biofouling control method "FALCONs" assessed as compliant by New Zealand's MPI

MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President: Takeyuki Takahashi, hereinafter "MITSUI E&S") has obtained the first vessel arrival assessment from the New Zealand regulatory authority (hereinafter "MPI*1) "). The biofouling report produced for this vessel arrival by the new fouling control method*2 "FALCONs" has been confirmed to comply with the MPI Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS*3)) for Vessels. This comes after 'one-year joint trial of Fouling control' with a Japanese launch customer.

Contamination by aquatic organisms adhering to the hull and propeller not only reduces the propulsion performance of the ship and worsens fuel efficiency but also can affect native ecosystems with invasive species, making it a major issue both on ship operation/management and compliance. The new fouling control service "FALCONs" contributes to 'Reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for ship operation' along with 'Reducing the risk of ecosystem transfer' through advanced fouling control.

FALCONs is a service that integrates 'Propulsion Performance Analysis' based on engine operation data and voyage record data with 'Fouling Evaluation' based on both AI and physical assessment of underwater inspection. It makes it possible to quantitatively grasp and predict the deterioration of propulsion performance due to fouling and the improvement due to cleaning. As a result, we provide services that 'Provide effective cleaning, in time and range' and 'Quantifying the fuel and CO2 reduction effect of such cleaning' to shipping operators who previously relied on other methods including, experience and intuition for cleaning decisions and whom now want to evaluate quantitatively the cleaning effect.

Furthermore, it was confirmed that a biofouling report produced with the new fouling management method using both propulsion performance analysis and hull fouling evaluation by "FALCONs" meets the recommended method of Continual maintenance using best practice specified in MPI's CRMS, and our first New Zealand vessel arrival using the new method has been assessed as fully compliant by MPI. By continual maintenance by propulsion performance monitoring and fouling 'AI' evaluation, using FALCONs it is possible to obtain port arrival clearance in accordance with CRMS's Continual maintenance using best practice while reducing unnecessary hull cleaning.

■Service Overview

Service name	Fouling Control Service "FALCONs"
Functions	Propulsion performance analysis, fouling AI judgment, fouling progression prediction, propulsion performance prediction
Outputs	Propulsion performance monitoring (browser), reports (voyage/inspection/cleaning/annual)
Benefits	Quantification of fuel reduction effect by cleaning, reduction of unnecessary cleaning

Sample image of physical assessment

Sample image of AI assessment

Quantification of Cleaning Effects (Sample image)

■FALCONs development process

MPI: MITSUI E&S and MPI discussed the approach of FALCONs to comply with the CRMS's recommended continual maintenance, which it did, as noted above our first vessel complied on arrival into NZ.

Mr. Hideo Terada, General Manager, Fresh Carriers Co., Ltd. (Launch Customer): 'The reduction of ecosystem transfer risk through the application of the new fouling management method is beneficial for our company, which frequently calls at NZ ports, and the ability to contribute to our customers by reducing CO2 emissions during navigation through proper hull and propeller cleaning control is also an attractive feature of this service'.

■Future Developments:

We aim to expand the fouling management value chain for our shipping operation customers by connecting data with our engine maintenance services (CMAXS LCA etc.), as well as collaborating with cleaning service providers, anti-fouling paint suppliers, and also cleaning robot suppliers.

Through the provision of engineering and services, our company, which aims to create a decarbonized society and solve issues of a society with a shrinking population, will contribute to solving marine-related issues by providing highly reliable services that contribute to 'CO2 emission reduction' and 'digitalization'.

*1）MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries)
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/
*2）New fouling control method
CRMS part1.5(3)a) Continual maintenance using best practice (example as IMO Biofouling Guidelines)
MEPC80/17/Add1 Annex17-8.5/8.6
*3）CRMS(Craft Risk Management Standard)
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/19757/direct

■Contact details for this Press Release
MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. Marketing Gr. New Business Development Div.
Tel : +81-3-3544-3707
e-mail : falcons@mes.co.jp
Web : https://www.mes.co.jp/business/research/falcons.html

MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. Internal Control Sect. Corporate Planning Dept.
Tel : +81-3-3544-3147