Assessing the Economic and Environmental Impact of Biofouling Management on Ships Using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV): A Case Study in Indonesia

Abstract

The maritime industry is currently facing challenges due to the increase of biofouling on ships, because it can potentially affect operational costs, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions. Indonesia is in the tropics, biofouling growth on ships is faster than the Mediterranean region.  The purpose of the observation is to find out the challenges and how Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) work in the underwater Cleaning system used to minimize biofouling growth on ships and the impacts it causes in Indonesia. Observations were carried out using a combined quantitative and qualitative methodology with an analysis method using triangulation methodology, and comparative analysis will be used. According to analysis findings to assess the environmental and economic effects of using ROV for biofouling cleaning, there are differences in fuel consumption results in the ship fuel usage data sample before and after cleaning using ROV. The Paired T test with the SPSS test tool was used to analyse the significance of the average difference from the sample data, and the average difference in fuel consumption is 1.11 MT, or 4.03 percent. The calculation of CO2 emissions in the sample fuel data resulted in a CO2 reduction of 139,400 tones, or 4.04 percent. With the positive assessment and benefits of using ROVs in Indonesia, surely in use there are various challenges faced and need to be properly addressed.