Analysis of economic and environmental performance of retrofits using simulation

Increasingly ship operators are under pressure to respond to demanding environmental regulations, e.g. ballast water treatment. Often these problems must be solved by some retrofitting activity, like installation of a treatment unit. As most applicable technologies are quite new, a decision is difficult to make. The whole life-cycle must be considered, not just initial investment and operating cost. This requires a detailed analysis of the retrofitting process. Our approach uses production simulation to determine actual exchanges with the environment and resulting overall cost. The method shall enable stakeholders of retrofitting projects to take an informed decision among implementation alternatives and strategies. It also provides another perspective to judge the feasibility of greening technologies, in particular from an environmental view.