Comparative analysis of two optimization methods of ship’s speed distribution during voyage

Abstract

Ship speed and fuel consumption calculations were performed based on foreign ship operation investigations and on the use of two ship speed distribution optimization methods. One of them was elaborated by Technical University in Berlin by means of the calculus of variations, the other by Maritime Institute in Gdansk using the differential calculus. A comparison of the calculation results indicated that both methods are equivalent and revealed differences less than 0.2%; moreover the latter method is far simpler. Fuel consumption savings which can be achieved in relation to a ship operated in the traditional way were also confirmed.