Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 56 No. 2 (July 2019)
1Smart Cruising Assist Contributes to
Fuel-Efficient Operation for Ships

M i ts u b i s h i H e a v y I n d u s t r i e s E n g i n e& Tu r b o c h a r g e r, L td ,In the operation of small commercial vessels and in fishery management businesses, theproportion of fuel expenses among all costs is high and fuel expenses are increasing every year.
There is a significant need for energy saving measures.
To offer an efficient operation mode that is effective in reducing fuel consumption, Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. (MHIET) developed a device for small vessels andfishing boats which, in the same way as devices developed for automobiles in recent years, displays
the actual state of fuel consumption and average fuel efficiency in real time and allows vessel
operators to conduct efficient energy saving operations at the optimum speed, contributing to thefuel-efficient operation of small vessels.

|1. Explanation of this product
1.1

Functions of this productIn general products for displaying fuel consumption, a flow meter is installed at the inlet ofthe fuel piping for the engine to calculate the fuel consumption, which requires an expensive
monitor and a data logger.
On the other hand, in small vessels, it is difficult to secure a space for a fuel flow meter in theengine room and significant installation cost is also incurred. As such, our company has
independently developed Smart Cruising Assist, a product that estimates fuel consumption basedon the engine performance without measuring the fuel flow rate.

1.2

Relationship between engine performance and fuel consumption

Figure 1 shows the method of estimating the engine output and the fuel consumption fromthe engine performance data detected in real time during actual operation using base data such asengine revolutions and boost pressure on dry land.
Our proprietary expertise on the calculation of fuel consumption from engine performance
was applied to the software for this product, and a function of correcting individual differences
between engines was also incorporated.

Figure 1

Method of calculation of engine output and fuel consumption

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 56 No. 2 (July 2019)2|2. Features of this product2.1

Overview and dimensions
Figure 2 depicts the components of Smart Cruising Assist and their dimensions.

Figure 2 Overview and dimensions of the system

2.2Features(1) Wheelhouse monitor
A tablet type monitoring device with a small and lightweight 8.5-inch wide LCD(WVGA) touch panel was adopted in consideration of mountability and ease of operation on asmall fishing boat.
(2) Waterproofness
The product passed various environmental tests required for mounting on vessels. Thesensor unit is waterproof (IP44) and the wheelhouse monitor is drip-proof on its front side.
(3) Location information
The built-in GPS function can display vessel speed and travel distance without external
input of a position signal and can also visually display their correlation with fuel consumption
in a graph.
(4) Installation method
The sensor unit is set in the engine room and connected to the power source and various
sensors. It is then connected to the monitor in the wheelhouse using the supplied dedicatedwires. Thus, Smart Cruising Assist can be easily installed in both existing vessels and newvessels.
(5) Measurement method
When the engine start signal is detected, measurement automatically starts. This prevents
a failure to measure caused by forgetting to turn the system on.
(6) Screen configuration
As can be seen in Figure 3, screens showing different contents can be switched using theselect buttons displayed on the screen.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 56 No. 2 (July 2019)
3Figure 3

Screen configuration|3. Advantages for the customer
1. Fuel-efficient operation(1) Making economical and optimum operations possible while monitoring both vessel speed
and fuel consumption(2) Understanding vessel conditions at light load and full load and facilitating efficient operationin consideration of vessel speed(3) Efficient, energy-saving operation is carried out as planned facilitated with past operation
data displayed on the screen
2. Facilitation of vessel management(1) Displaying cruising distance, vessel speed and relationship between vessel speed and fuelconsumption(2) Making it possible to estimate arrival time and available cruising range by input of cruising
distance(3) Automatically displaying timings of periodic inspection for the engine and maintenance forparts replacement recommended by manufacturer(4) Managing past operation states based on measurement data for use in future operation
planning|4. Extended functions
As extended functions, Smart Cruising Assist will feature the following systems:(1) Remote monitoring system
The remote monitoring system helps to collect operation state data from the vessel to thecloud using a communication system between the ship and land so that the data can be used byusers and dealers, as well as within company (Figure 4).
(2) Onboard communication system
A radio communication system for onboard communication makes communications toseveral monitoring locations, including the wheelhouse and upper bridge, wireless (Figure 5).
(3) Autonomous operating system
The autonomous operating system assists energy-efficient operation.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 56 No. 2 (July 2019)
4Figure 4

Remote communication system

Figure 5

Onboard communication system

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 56 No. 2 (July 2019)5|5. Future development
To meet increasingly diversifying customer needs, we plan to acquire product certifications
from general incorporated foundation Nippon Kaiji Kyokai to enhance reliability and will reduce
environmental load by realizing further energy-efficient operation and improvements in theworkability of vessels.
Smart Cruising Assist is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. inJapan.