Achieving a climate-neutral maritime economy
Lately, Syroco’s strategic weather partner, Spire, asked Syroco’s CEO and co-founder Alex Caizergues to share his perspective on ways to achieve a climate-neutral maritime economy. The resulting interview is republished here with Spire’s permission.
For maritime leaders grappling with rising fuel costs and tightening regulations, the thick smoke billowing from ships is more than just an environmental concern - it’s a call to action
But amidst the familiar smog, a new horizon is emerging, powered by innovative technologies and partnerships paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Can they seize this opportunity and navigate their companies towards a new era of maritime shipping? The answer is a resounding YES!
Did you know?
In 2022, international shipping alone accounted for nearly 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. And if nothing changes, it could be responsible for 17% of global emissions in 2050. Staggering, isn’t it?
Thankfully, the maritime industry is taking action.
Intrigued by how weather can impact a ship’s fuel efficiency and carbon footprint?
We recently sat down with avid pro kitesurfer Alex Caizergues, who not only holds several speed records on the water but also serves as CEO and co-founder of Syroco, a Climate Tech startup harnessing the power of physics, data, and AI to revolutionize maritime sustainability. In our conversation, Alex shed light on the immense influence of weather and sea conditions on fuel consumption and how Syroco’s game-changing product empowers operators to leverage weather data for optimal routes, reduced emissions, and reliable scheduling.
What specific challenge in maritime sustainability did your experience in kitesurfing make you particularly passionate about tackling?
My time on the water underscored the immense power of wind, waves and currents, and it frustrated me to see how traditional shipping often ignored these forces, wasting fuel and polluting the very environment that sustains their business. That’s why I co-founded Syroco - to leverage these natural forces through advanced technology and empower these giant ships, responsible for 90% of global trade and a significant share of emissions, to navigate more efficiently and sustainably.
How does weather volatility affect your ability to deliver fuel efficiency and scheduling improvements for your customers? What are the biggest headaches they face when dealing with unpredictable seas?
Weather can swing fuel consumption on the same route by up to 50%, depending on wind, waves, and currents. This historically translated to higher costs and tradeoffs to maintain strict schedules for shipping companies. Syroco turns weather from a foe into a friend. Imagine a bulk carrier battling 20-foot swells - our AI predicts the optimal route that harnesses tailwinds and currents and avoids fighting rough seas, saving 10% or more on overall fuel consumption and arriving on time. This is the kind of impact we bring to our customers, reducing their fuel costs, emissions, and scheduling anxieties.
How does Spire Voyage Optimization, powered by Theyr, amplify the power of your digital twins, unlocking the hidden potential that leads to even greater value for your customers?
Spire Voyage Optimization takes our digital twins to the next level, unlocking a powerful combo for our customers. Through this integration, we unleash the magic of AI-powered route optimization, letting our digital twins virtually explore millions of possibilities. The result is tailored routes, speed profiles and vessel settings that slash fuel costs by double digits, and significantly shrink carbon footprints. Imagine arriving at your destination exactly on schedule, saving 15% on fuel, and all while leaving a lighter footprint on the planet – that’s the power of Spire Voyage Optimization harnessed by our digital twins, delivering tangible benefits for every ship operator we serve.
Why did you choose Spire to be your data partner?
Selecting the ideal partner for Syroco’s digital twin technology was critical. Our priority was to find a routing solution that ensured highly dependable models, offering the flexibility to tailor our objectives. Equally important was access to precise weather and sea condition data. Spire emerged as the standout choice. Their advanced AI-driven, satellite-based weather tracking and forecasting met our stringent criteria. Additionally, Spire’s technology is engineered for seamless integration with various software platforms, simplifying the process for us.
Why is the maritime industry looking for solutions like Syroco’s?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently updated its strategy to significantly curb greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. This roadmap has huge implications for shipping companies, who are on a fast track to improve their energy efficiency. Among the levers identified by the IMO, there are two that we know we can activate with Syroco: improve ship & fleet operations with smart ship technologies and better leverage wind propulsion for vessels that are equipped with wind assistance devices.
Do you have some specific examples of how digital twins, combined with simulation and routing, can help shipping companies achieve their goals?
Upon analyzing the initial deployments our customers have made, we are seeing an increase in energy efficiency of 10% or more without increasing voyage time. This is achieved through a combination of weather routing and ship configuration adjustments (engine, propeller, autopilot, trim, ballast, rudder, etc.) to optimize overall ship efficiency. Taken together, this is what we call real-time voyage optimization - it reaches well beyond legacy routing.
To put things in perspective, a large merchant ship (containership, tanker, cruise ship, etc.) can burn upwards of 300 tons of fuel daily. With Syroco helping increase efficiency by 10%, this avoids 25,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year while saving €3-5m on the fuel bill.