The uptake of more sophisticated technology in shipping is painfully slow. The innovative approach which is needed in shipping today is one based on performance from collected data. The traditional approach, so the ERP solution enterprise software, is based on introducing data – on procurement, maintenance and spare parts, quality and safety (HSQE) and crewing. However, manual processes can’t be taken seriously, because they are so open to human error or misinterpretation.

Giampiero Soncini, MD of Oceanly Srl, told Julia Swales, Advisory Board Manager at the Foundation for Future Supply Chain, that rules and regulations are not keeping up with the needs of the market. As the software his company builds relies on the sensors on the ships, he’s in the process of fighting for rules and regulations that make calibration sensor verification compulsory. Sensors on board ships tend to be neglected. When a data collection analysis system or software is used, it’s important to be 100% sure that the sensors are reliable, so his company have inserted new functionality in their software and mechanisms which can check that the sensor is emitting accurate data.

Another benefit of using more advanced software, is accurate emissions measurement. Regulatory bodies such as the IMO should make flow meters and torque meters compulsory because right now, only one set of data is taken per day. As only the average is recorded, it’s not accurate.

Major oil companies were previously being blamed for emissions and pollution, so they decided that tanker owners should undergo self-assessment. They have created a new methodology, so that they can wash their hands of responsibility – instead it’s offloaded onto the tanker owners. Now we are onto version three of this self-assessment methodology, TMSA. The first version made recent plan maintenance and computerized plan maintenance compulsory, but these disappeared in version two, again showing that rules and regulations do not keep up with the with the needs of the market.

In addition, ships don’t have a proper black box – in the aviation industry the performance of the engines is constantly monitored. However, it is incredible that it is possible to disconnect the transponder manually on an airplane – this is what happened to the Malaysia 370. It is also possible to disconnect the AIS (Automatic Identification System) manually on ships, but this should be forbidden – there should be rules and regulations against this too.

It’s clear that the software landscape in shipping needs to undergo a remarkable transformation, driven by the need for agility, security, and efficiency.

Source: Foundation for Future Supply Chain

Author: Julia Swales

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