With bunker prices having increased by 76% since the US war on Iran, together with an ageing fleet operating longer voyages as ships navigate around conflict zones, shipmanagers and crews need to look more closely at their engines if they want to reduce costs, said engine monitoring specialist CM Technologies (CMT) on Monday (28 September). CMT believes the combined effect of higher fuel costs, older ships (average age is 13 according to Clarksons data) and machinery and tighter emissions requirements is increasing the value of detailed engine performance data. “Shipowners cannot control the carbon price, and they have limited control over the price of bunker fuel, but they can investigate whether their ageing ships and engines are running as efficiently as they can,” said David Fuhlbrügge, joint managing director, CMT. Aside from the commercial pressures associated with VLSFO currently trading at around US$881/mt, the introduction of regulations targeting carbon emissions means regular engine performance monitoring is also crucial to keeping carbon penalties down. Shipping is already included in the EU Emissions Trading System, while methane and nitrous oxide were included in the scheme in 2026. FuelEU Maritime has also entered its first verification period this year, while IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator continues to require ships of 5,000gt and above to calculate and report operational carbon intensity. “Small problems result in significant increases in specific fuel oil consumption and spikes in carbon emissions,” he said. “But if crews have reliable cylinder pressure and combustion data, they can make the necessary adjustments to reduce emissions and energy losses.” Referencing the company’s flagship PREMET®X diesel performance analyser, Fuhlbrügge explained that the technology measures cylinder pressure during engine operation, allowing engineers to examine the combustion process and identify any anomalies. The portable device uses a Kistler PiezoSMART