Lowering the threshold to share data in shipping

The maritime transport industry is undergoing a green transformation, looking at everything from more efficient hull shapes, new propulsion systems, and alternative carbon-neutral fuels such as hydrogen or ammonia. The industry as a whole has set ambitious goals for decarbonization towards both 2030 and 2050. 

In close collaboration with the Ocean Data Platform team, NoA Ignite's data scientists have developed an advanced big data solution based on open AIS data (Automated Identification System), vessel particulars and a calculation method from ICCT (International Council of Clean Transportation). The solution considers important variables such as ship dimensions, propulsion system, weather, fouling, and fuel type, so you can trend greenhouse gas emissions at hourly intervals from 250.000 ships around the world. 

Transparency in the maritime transport sector

The goal of the solution is to lower the threshold for increased insight and transparency for environmental impacts from shipping and inspire and promote tomorrow's solutions in green shipping. We provide easily accessible and relevant data through the Ocean Data Platform developer toolbox.  

The target group will be shipping companies, logistics companies, port authorities, financial institutions, academia and citizen scientists. 

Status

As we advance, we aim for a solution that will offer different degrees of accuracy and resolution of the emission estimates. The simplest level will be an advanced empirical approach based on the ICCT method. We use open (satellite-based) position-tracking data, and it does not require any connectivity to the ship. 

Heading for machine learning and increased level of accuracy

The next level of accuracy will be to take advantage of machine learning algorithms trained with fuel/voyage data from thousands of ships and travel in all world areas under different conditions. This level will also be an excellent opportunity for shipping and logistics companies to share data anonymously for increased transparency and offer more accurate estimates without manual reporting. 

Furthermore, the highest level of accuracy may require connectivity to the ship and real-time data streams related to fuel consumption and associated emissions.  

Our partner Mercuria and its subsidiary Minerva Bunkering are contributing to the Ocean Data Platform by using its expertise as users of and suppliers to the global shipping market and as owners of a vessel fleet. A concrete example of their contribution is sharing fuel data from the fleet of the tankers they operate.