TWO companies with strong Barrow connections are helping the Royal Navy go green.

Marine specialist James Fisher and Sons, which which has its headquarters in the town, has supplied an oil tanker to BAE for a project to test a new software system designed to transform ship maintenance.

The project is being carried out through BAE's shipyard in Portsmouth.

Dutch subsea firm Fugro and American-owned software business OSISoft UK are also involved in the programme, which has the aim of developing technology known as Ship Energy Assessment – Condition Optimisation & Routing Enhancement System (SEA-CORES).

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This analyses data from the complex systems on board a ship to provide a live model of its performance wherever it is in the world.

It has been developed because of the complexity of modern warships, which generate a huge amount of information from their systems.

The technology will analyse the vibration and trim performance of the vessel, its hull and superstructure state together with environmental conditions such as the weather, as well as issues to do with the ship's performance, including energy consumption.

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Using complex algorithms, the software will recommend ways to get the best and most efficient performance from the ship.

The oil tanker will sail in northern European waters until the end of this year.

BAE have said that this technology could transform how the Royal Navy and BAE Systems maintain and support warships in the future.

The information provided could also influence ship design, making the warships of tomorrow more efficient to operate.

The companies are working with the University of Portsmouth and the Government agency Innovate UK.

Chris Courtaux, the head of engineering and energy services at BAE Systems, said this project would have benefits for both military and private sector shipping.

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He said: “This technology will provide the Royal Navy with valuable information that will enable it to make better decisions about how it operates the fleet. For instance, reducing speed may save fuel, but could increase the wear to the engine if it sails below its optimum speed.

“Providing real time data about the impact of such decisions can help the operator to reduce fuel consumption and minimise wear on the engine, helping to save costs and increase the availability of the fleet to fulfil operational commitments around the world."

Mr Courtaux added: "The same technology is valuable for commercial companies looking for opportunities to boost the competitiveness of their operations.”