Greensea IQ Blog

5 Ways EverClean Saves Fuel Costs for Ships

Written by Greensea IQ | Oct 2, 2025 3:10:54 PM

Fuel efficiency is critical for any ship operator. Rising fuel costs, environmental regulations, and competitive pressures mean finding effective solutions is more important than ever. One of the most impactful—and often overlooked—ways to save fuel is maintaining a clean hull. EverClean’s proactive, in-water cleaning service provides a consistent, reliable way to optimize hull performance and reduce costs. Here are five ways EverClean helps ships save on fuel.

Reducing Hull Drag

Biofilm—a thin, slimy layer of microorganisms—is the earliest stage of biofouling. Even at this micro fouling level, it can increase drag by up to 10%, forcing ships to burn more fuel to maintain speed. EverClean prevents this by addressing biofilm before it becomes a problem, ensuring hulls remain smooth and hydrodynamic.

Key Impact: Less drag means less energy is needed to move the vessel, translating to significant fuel savings.

Preventing Macro Fouling and Its High Costs

If biofilm isn’t removed early, it escalates to macro fouling—harder, thicker layers of barnacles, seaweed, and shellfish. Macro fouling dramatically increases drag, driving up fuel consumption and requiring more effort (and cost) to remove. EverClean’s proactive cleaning schedule ensures that hulls never reach this stage, avoiding the significant fuel penalties associated with macro fouling.

Key Impact: Early action reduces long-term fuel costs and minimizes the risk of costly emergency cleanings.

Enhancing Vessel Efficiency Year-Round

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring consistent performance, and EverClean’s service keeps vessels operating at their best. Proactive, automated cleaning ensures that ships maintain peak efficiency without the downtime or disruption of dry docking for manual cleaning.

Key Impact: Consistent performance optimizes fuel consumption across all voyages, improving operational reliability.

Reducing Wear on Propulsion Systems

Fouled hulls don’t just affect fuel efficiency; they also strain engines, propellers, and other propulsion systems. This additional stress increases fuel consumption and can lead to more frequent repairs and maintenance. By keeping hulls clean, EverClean reduces the workload on these systems.

Key Impact: Cleaner hulls lower fuel demand and extend the lifespan of propulsion systems, reducing overall operating costs.

Supporting Environmental Compliance

Fuel efficiency isn’t just about cost—it’s also about meeting environmental regulations. Cleaner hulls mean fewer emissions, helping ship operators comply with stricter standards while also reducing their environmental footprint.

Key Impact: Lower fuel consumption directly correlates with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, supporting both cost savings and sustainability goals.

Fuel Savings with EverClean: A Proven Strategy

EverClean offers a proactive solution to one of the most significant cost drivers in maritime operations. By focusing on early intervention and consistent maintenance, EverClean delivers measurable savings and supports sustainable, efficient shipping practices.

To learn more about how EverClean can reduce fuel costs for your fleet, contact us today. Let’s make fuel efficiency a cornerstone of your operations.