However, looking only at the initial investment cost is not enough to evaluate the true economic performance of a fleet.

Because a commercial boat operates for years.

During this period, it consumes fuel or energy, undergoes maintenance, parts are replaced, and may be out of service from time to time.

The real cost is the sum of all these processes.

This approach TCO — Total Cost of Ownership, that is, called Total Cost of Ownership.

energy cost

The annual usage hours of a passenger boat can be high.

For this reason, energy consumption differences that seem small at one time can reach significant figures in the annual calculation.

A hull with lower hydrodynamic resistance or a more accurately dimensioned propulsion system can provide a direct economic advantage here.

Therefore, energy efficiency is not just an environmental goal.

It is also one of the fundamental parts of business economics.

Maintenance periods

Commercial boats have regular maintenance schedules.

The maintenance need for the engine, transmission system, cooling infrastructure and other mechanical equipment is directly reflected in operating expenses.

The fact that electric motors have fewer moving parts can reduce some maintenance items.

However, in order to evaluate this correctly, not only the engine but the entire power system must be considered together.

Batteries, thermal management, charging infrastructure and power electronics should also be evaluated from a lifecycle perspective.

unplanned stop

One of the most expensive problems for a commercial marine vessel is not always the fault itself.

The time the boat is out of service can also create a large cost.

Unplanned downtime of a vehicle on a public transport line may require replacement of another vehicle or change of schedule.

Therefore, fleet availability is an important performance indicator.

Telemetry and system monitoring solutions gain value at this point.

By monitoring battery temperatures, power demand, alarm conditions and system behavior, it may be possible to detect potential problems earlier.

Part life

Just because a system is cheap does not mean it is economical in the long run.

If a critical component must be replaced frequently, the total lifecycle cost can increase.

For this reason, in Navarc's TCO approach, maintenance periods and part life are also evaluated in addition to energy consumption.

Calculation based on task profile

Not every fleet operates the same way.

While some boats only make a few long trips during the day, others can perform high-frequency operations over short distances.

For this reason, it is more accurate to calculate TCO based on the actual task profile rather than standard catalog data.

Route length, daily number of trips, passenger target, service speed and annual usage hours should be evaluated together.

The aim of Navarc's commercial approach is not just to develop “cheaper boats”.

It is to develop an engineering solution that can create a lower operational load throughout its service life.