Fuel optimization is often treated as an isolated objective. In reality, its success depends on one critical factor: data quality. Without accurate, consistent data, identifying trends or deviations becomes guesswork, which is something few teams can afford. Yet fuel remains the largest operational cost for charterers, a recurring source of disputes between charterers and shipowners, and a key metric for environmental reporting. Despite this, many fuel analysis practices remain rudimentary.
The solution is simple in principle but challenging in execution: marine fuel optimization must start with accurate, consistent measurement and benchmarking
Why Consistent Data Matters at Fleet Scale
Fuel consumption can vary even under identical conditions: same vessel type, speed, weather, and voyage profile. Without a consistent baseline, the reasons for these differences remain unclear. Was it operational behavior, loading, engine configuration, or environmental context?
Inconsistent data limits action :
- Charterers may request improvements without proof of impact.
- Crews may apply best practices that go unrecognized.
- Shipowners may invest in changes without clarity on results.
Consistent data enables before-and-after comparisons, vessel-to-vessel benchmarking, and fleet-wide insights. At Opsealog, we routinely cross-check historical data from thousands of vessels to measure impact, not intentions. Fuel optimization is just the starting point; any operational initiative benefits from the same structured and proven approach.
Case Study: Fuel Additive Evaluation in Angola
Between January and June 2024, five vessels from the TotalEnergies E&P Angola fleet (three crewboats and two PSVs) were selected to test the Excellium Pro Concentrate additive in their marine gas oil (MGO). The analysis, conducted by Opsealog, relied on more than 1,700 daily reports, comparing periods with and without the additive using a rigorous methodology and weekly monitoring.
Excellium Pro Concentrate is a 100% organic, multifunctional additive engineered to improve combustion, protect engines, and maintain fuel quality by reducing injector deposits, mitigating wear, and minimizing fuel degradation, water contamination, and corrosion. It is designed for easy deployment without a negative impact on engine integrity. TotalEnergies AFS
Results:
- 3.3% average reduction in (MGO) consumption across the test fleet
- Approximately USD 1.5 million in savings from reduced fuel usage.
- About 3,600 tonnes of CO₂ emissions were avoided through lower fuel consumption.
- Crewboats demonstrated a modeled benefit of 4.8% over representative operational periods.
These results are significant in offshore operations because even single-digit improvements translate to substantial cost and emissions impacts. and they were made visible only through structured comparison against a reliable baseline.
Beyond fuel and emissions, crews reported cleaner engines and more stable performance under demanding offshore conditions. These outcomes were visible because a consistent reporting baseline was already in place. Structured data allowed before-and-after comparisons, vessel-to-vessel cross-checks, and alignment between operational observations and analytical results.
Key insight: The additive’s impact could be measured effectively because consistent, high-quality data were already being collected.
Full version of the Business case here
More than Fuel: Data as Operational Infrastructure
Fuel additives are just one example of initiatives that rely on measurement. The same principles apply to :
- Alternative fuels: Track emissions and consumption to compare performance.
- Hybrid configurations: Assess energy savings before fleet-wide investment.
- Engine upgrades: Quantify operational improvements across vessels.
- Routing adjustments: Identify the most efficient paths under varying conditions.
- Predictive maintenance: Detect inefficiencies before failures occur.
- Emissions reporting: Ensure accurate, verifiable environmental data.
Consistent data allows charterers and shipowners to compare vessels performing the same task, under the same conditions, with the same equipment. It highlights high performers, identifies areas for improvement, and supports decisions with evidence rather than averages.
Fuel optimization is often the first step because fuel is already reported daily. Once measurement is in place, data becomes the backbone of operational decision-making, supporting every improvement that must be justified, repeated, or scaled.
Final Takeaway
Real improvements start with accurate, consistent data. Fuel is a natural starting point, but the lessons extend far beyond consumption metrics. With structured measurement, charterers, shipowners, and crews gain the ability to make informed decisions, quantify impact, and replicate success across vessels and fleets.
At Opsealog, we help turn operational data into actionable insights, ensuring every investment and initiative is guided by evidence, not assumption.