Retrofitted Gate Rudder System In Situ Performance Analysis Using Data-Driven Method

The growing focus on enhancing ship performance over the past decades has driven the invention of various energy-saving devices. Conducting performance analyses of these devices is essential to substantiate the claimed energy savings. However, this process is complicated by the dynamic conditions experienced by ships, such as weather and loading conditions. These factors could significantly impact the results of comparisons made between pre- and post-retrofitting performance of new energy-saving devices. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the performance analysis process of a general cargo vessel equipped with a Gate Rudder system, which is a twin rudder system known for its thrust-producing and energy-saving properties. A multi-input, multi-output data-driven method, utilizing in situ and weather data, is developed and applied to account for the effects of weather and loading conditions. A performance analysis is then conducted by using the data-driven models to estimate three different indicators of ship performance in terms of propulsion efficiency. The results suggest that the Gate Rudder could potentially reduce torque requirements by up to 20.70%, shaft power requirements by up to 27.58%, and fuel consumption by up to 30.35%, with the same weather and loading conditions.