“If you look at FuelEU Maritime alone, we have organised numerous webinars and information events to train and support our fleet teams. Ultimately, they are the contact to the owners and must be able to guide and advise them about best possible solutions”, said Anil Jacob, Head of Fleet Performance and responsible for BSM’s Emission Management Services.
In parallel, BSM is preparing the seafaring staff for the new FuelEU requirements as part of its Vessel Performance and Decarbonisation (VPD) Courses. “We are the only ship manager where VPD Courses are mandatory”, Jacob points out. “We have already trained about 4,000 seafarers in 100 batches in our Maritime Training Centres. He is keen on raising awareness for the new regulations such as CII, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime. “Ultimately, it is about fuel saving, and that is done on board.”
VPD Courses are crucial in advancing vessel performance and supporting decarbonisation efforts. Tailored for Masters, Chief Engineers, and 2nd Officers, the programme offers in-depth training on IMO and EU regulatory compliance, Live Voyage and Performance PAL tools, along with practical exercises focused on enhancing reporting quality.
Vessels staffed by seafarers who have completed the VPD training have demonstrated notable improvements in reporting accuracy and performance monitoring. This success is reflected in a significant enhancement of the Vessel Performance Rating (VPR) across the BSM-managed fleet.
The training is well received by the seafarers. “The course was incredibly helpful in comprehending all aspects and the importance of VPD. We gained in-depth knowledge of KPI indicators, fuel optimisation for the main and auxiliary engines, and techniques for performance enhancement and hull cleaning. The updates on new regulations were crucial, and we also appreciated the functions of PAL, which were previously underutilised but have now become integral to our operations”, said one of the course participants.