Fleet electrification is moving rapidly from concept to implementation. Across marine operations globally, operators are responding to emissions targets, regulatory requirements, and long-term cost pressures by actively planning the transition to electric propulsion.
Unlike conventional fleet replacement, however, electrification is not a like-for-like upgrade. It requires a fundamental rethink of how vessels are specified, how services are operated, and how supporting infrastructure is designed.
This shift introduces greater complexity, making early-stage decisions more critical to long-term success.
Accurate, detailed data is fundamental to informing an effective electrification strategy.
Electrified fleets introduce a new set of interdependent variables that go well beyond traditional diesel-based planning.
Key considerations include:
These factors are tightly connected. For example, route design affects energy demand, which drives battery sizing, which in turn impacts charging requirements and infrastructure investment.
Because of this complexity and interconnectedness, electrification projects are highly sensitive to inaccurate assumptions.
Assumption-based planning introduces significant risk in electrification projects.
Manufacturer specifications and theoretical models rarely capture the variability of real-world operations. Weather, tides, vessel loading, and operational behaviour all influence performance outcomes.
Without empirical data, operators risk:
The most effective electrification strategies are therefore grounded in measured operational data that reflect how vessels actually perform in service.
The starting point for any electrification project is capturing high-resolution data from the existing fleet.
This includes:
Platforms such as On Watch enable operators to capture this data continuously and at scale.
For example, in the Transdev Sydney Ferries fleet, On Watch has been used to collect approximately 538,000 data points per hour across vessel systems, providing a highly detailed view of real-world performance.
This level of visibility allows operators to identify trends across vessel classes, improve maintenance strategies, and significantly reduce reliance on assumptions in operational decision-making.
Download the Fleet Electrification Data Readiness Checklist
On Watch plays a critical role in bridging the gap between operational reality and electrification design.
Capturing and analysing high-frequency data across vessel systems, routes, and environmental conditions provides operators with a reliable, empirical foundation for decision-making.
Key benefits include:
In the Transdev Sydney Ferries deployment, operators noted that this level of data detail enabled them to better understand vessel behaviour, fine-tune operations, and reduce uncertainty in decision-making.
This same capability becomes critical when planning electrification, where accuracy directly impacts capital investment and operational viability.
Once captured, operational data must be translated into a structured model to inform the design of an electrified fleet.
Converting Operational Data to Energy Demand
Fuel-based performance is converted to electrical energy demand (kWh) using propulsion loads and duty cycles as the baseline.
Accounting for Hull Efficiency and Vessel Design
Future vessel performance must account for hydrodynamic efficiency, hull condition, and design improvements. Electric systems are more sensitive to inefficiencies due to finite onboard energy.
Integrating Charging Strategy
Charging becomes a central operational constraint. Models must align energy consumption with available charging windows, power availability, and infrastructure capacity.
Battery Capacity and Lifecycle
Battery sizing must account for:
Peak demand and variability
Degradation over time
Required operational reserves
Accurate data ensures batteries are correctly sized, avoiding unnecessary cost or operational risk.
Operators can model different combinations of:
Vessel types
Battery capacities
Charging strategies
Infrastructure layouts.
Real-world datasets allow these scenarios to reflect actual variability, improving confidence in outcomes.
With modelling complete, operators can move into structured evaluation and planning.
This includes:
Capital investment in vessels, batteries, and charging infrastructure
Grid capacity and upgrade requirements
Installation timelines and constraints
Operational impacts on service levels and fleet size
A data-led approach enables more accurate forecasting and reduces the likelihood of costly redesign or operational disruption.
Fleet electrification is not simply a technology upgrade; it is an operational transformation.
The success of that transformation depends on the quality of the data used to inform it.
By capturing real-world operational performance and translating it into robust models, operators can:
Reduce uncertainty
Optimise fleet design
Make confident, commercially sound investment decisions
Align infrastructure with operational needs
Without that data foundation, electrification remains high-risk and assumption-driven.
Contact the On Watch team to learn more about how easy it is to get started or take advantage of our free trial offer.