Efficiency in Action: Adria Ferries Reports 2–3% Fuel Consumption Improvement Following Propspeed Application

Customer-supplied analysis estimates approximately 56 tonnes of fuel saved during the first three months following application

“I believe an average benefit in fuel consumption of 2–3% can reasonably be attributed to Propspeed.”

— Commander Salvatore Della Rocca
Fleet Manager / Chief Operating Officer, Adria Ferries

The Challenge: Efficiency Matters on Every Crossing

For commercial ferry operators, fuel is one of the largest ongoing operating costs. When a vessel operates a frequent, fixed route, even modest changes in fuel consumption can add up significantly over time.

That is the operating environment for AF MIA, a passenger ferry operated by Adria Ferries on the Ancona–Durrës route between Italy and Albania.

AF MIA can carry up to 1,528 passengers and 819 vehicles per crossing and is a regular fixture on the route. With frequent crossings throughout the year, maintaining efficient vessel performance is an important consideration for the operator.

Adria Ferries was also managing a change in its fuel supply. Since December 2025, AF MIA had been operating on B20 biofuel, which resulted in average fuel consumption approximately 1.7 tonnes higher per crossing than the fuel previously used.

This meant that a simple comparison with historical fuel-consumption figures would not provide an accurate assessment of changes following a new propeller treatment. Adria Ferries therefore needed a consistent basis for evaluating the vessel’s performance.

Photo Source: Adria Ferries

The Approach: A Consistent Before-and-After Comparison

Following the application, Commander Salvatore Della Rocca reviewed AF MIA’s fuel-consumption data.

Because the vessel had transitioned to B20 fuel before the Propspeed application, Adria Ferries compared crossings completed before and after the application using the same B20 fuel.

This avoided comparing the post-application results against data generated using a different fuel and provided a more consistent basis for evaluating the change in fuel consumption.

The analysis focused on the vessel’s regular route operations and the fuel consumed per crossing.

The Results: 0.6–0.7 Tonnes Less Fuel per Crossing

According to Adria Ferries’ analysis, AF MIA recorded an average reduction in fuel consumption of approximately 0.6–0.7 tonnes per crossing following the Propspeed application.

“The data analysed shows an average reduction in consumption of about 0.6–0.7 tons per crossing, equal to an overall improvement in the order of 2–3%. In the period under review, the estimated saving is about 56 tons of fuel.”
— Commander Salvatore Della Rocca
Fleet Manager / Chief Operating Officer, Adria Ferries

Why the Result Matters

For a commercial ferry, fuel savings are not isolated to a single voyage.

AF MIA operates a regular international route between Ancona and Durrës, meaning that the effect of a relatively modest reduction in fuel consumption can accumulate across repeated crossings.

In this case, Adria Ferries’ analysis estimated an average reduction of 0.6–0.7 tonnes of fuel per crossing. Across the first three months following the Propspeed application, that translated into an estimated 56 tonnes of fuel saved.

The result illustrates why propeller condition and underwater efficiency can be important considerations for commercial vessels where fuel consumption is closely tied to operating costs.

The Takeaway

AF MIA’s experience demonstrates the potential impact that incremental efficiency improvements can have when applied to a commercial vessel operating a busy, repeated route.

Following the March 2026 application of Propspeed, Adria Ferries’ analysis reported:

~56 tonnes

estimated fuel saved during the first three months

For operators looking beyond individual voyages and toward the cumulative cost of running a commercial fleet, those numbers can make efficiency worth measuring.

A Partnership Focused on Commercial Efficiency

This application aboard AF Claudia is another example of CMP Europe’s ongoing support for Adria Ferries and its commercial fleet.

Photo Source: Fabrizio Porrone

About Adria Ferries

Founded in Ancona in 2004, Adria Ferries was established to revive the historic ferry connection between Italy and Albania. Operating today under Frittelli Maritime Group, the company has grown from a single chartered vessel to a fleet of four ferries.

Adria Ferries connects Italian ports including Ancona and Bari with Durrës in Albania and Bar in Montenegro. AF MIA joined the Adria Ferries fleet in December 2023 and operates primarily on the Ancona–Durrës route.

adriaferries.com