SEEMP - what exactly is it?

SEEMP - what exactly is it?

IMO - MEPC.213 (63) Guidance for the Development of a SEEMP recognizes that operational efficiencies will make an invaluable contribution to reducing global carbon emissions. Its main purpose is to establish a mechanism for a company and/or a ship to improve the energy efficiency of a ship’s operation that is preferably linked to a broader corporate energy management policy. The SEEMP is to be customized to characteristics and needs of individual companies and ships.

Based on the experience from many successful projects, a good SEEMP is one that works as a tool to improve the energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption for a vessel. DNV delivers SEEMPs that go beyond just regulatory compliance and to come up with measures that are optimized for our clients.

In order to be able to develop a SEEMP of the highest quality, we always meet our clients, interview key personnel and hold workshops in order to define the “right” measures for them in terms of priority and likelihood of implementation. With this approach, such a SEEMP will actually save fuel for the client.

DNV provides a wide range of SEEMP services to clients and covers full-development options for ‘master / template’ and copies for other vessels in the fleet, in-house workshops, reviewing/improving an existing document and verification in line with IMO requirements.

Four steps to success

• Step 1 – Establish a baseline It is important to examine data, tools and processes in order to determine a credible baseline from which goals, plans and actions all grow
• Step 2 – Identify improvement potential Identify how much you can save and just as importantly, what initiatives you need to undertake to realize the improvements
• Step 3 – Implement and monitor Put the plan into action and track performance using a variety of established systems / processes to help overcome resistance to ‘new’ initiatives
• Step 4 – Evaluate and update The progress of the different improvement initiatives should be regularly followed up by the responsible persons / department with the assessment of performance used to modify future goals and implementation tactics

The DNV guideline (see sidebar) gives recommendations from DNV on how companies can develop SEEMP themselves.

The IMO guideline itself can be found at the IMO website www.imo.org. Please note that this will be updated over the coming 12-months or more, and whilst it is not expected to change too much, it will be modified. Always check the IMO website for the latest version.