Where shipping is historically seen as a traditional and somewhat conservative industry, it cannot be denied that digitalization of the shipping industry is in full effect.
Ships are increasingly connected to the internet and software is starting to play a dominating role in how ships are operated on a day-to-day basis.
ABB recognizes and embraces the importance of digital solutions for ships and provides a comprehensive and integrated Digital Service offering for the global marine industry. The total offering consists out of several important elements, being the OCTOPUS software for safety & comfort and energy efficient operations, and remote diagnostics technology that preventively and continuously monitors critical equipment onboard of a ship. “Through our Integrated Operations Solutions and Centers we aim to be one of the leading and recognized digital solution providers for the shipping industry by 2020,” said Kenneth Nakken, Vice President Digital Services, at ABB’s Marine & Ports business. “We develop all our digital solutions with the customer in mind and we believe current and future services will strengthen the shore side operations of all involved.”
For more than 15 years OCTOPUS has been the industry standard when it comes to route optimization for sea-going vessels based on prediction of vessel motions. The primary goal of the launch of the software when introduced to the market for the first time, was to ensure safety of the crew and her cargo during operations at sea. To generate a motion based route advice, the OCTOPUS system takes into account the vessels hydrodynamic particulars, in combination with the sensor data such as loading condition, GPS & Gyro and the on-board weather forecast. The result of all this is that the master and his crew will receive a clear advice on the OCTOPUS monitor on the bridge of the ship, with safe heading sectors and speeds, so that maximum allowable motions are not exceeded.
More than 300 (heavy) cargo ships around the globe are currently utilizing the OCTOPUS system. Amongst them the world’s biggest container-shipping company, Maersk Line. In 2015 ABB together with the weather forecasting specialist MeteoGroup equipped 140 of their vessels with motion based route optimization. Once fitted on Maersk Line ships, OCTOPUS technology will enable captains to define on-board loading conditions, and more accurately determine areas of the ocean where their ship’s motion is likely to exceed threshold values. Routes can then be optimized automatically to skirt adverse conditions, ensuring cargo arrives safely and on-time at its destination port.
Another important field for the OCTOPUS software is the usage of the system onboard semi-submersible heavy cargo ships. When looking at these kinds of vessels, more than 80% of these giants of the sea are equipped with the OCTOPUS motion forecasting system. Back in 2013 the biggest semi-submersible vessel in the world, the Dockwise Vanguard, was also outfitted with the OCTOPUS system. In addition to the motion forecast functionality, a three sensor motion measurement set-up is in most cases installed on heavy cargo vessels. The set-up allows the system to measure motions on the vessel and her cargo – this information can then be seen in real time by both shore-side by the shipping company and owner of the cargo.
Kenneth Nakken goes on: “ABB strives to offer the most complete digital portfolio to our customers. We optimize vessel operations in every thinkable way and make ships ready for a future that will be characterized by a digital revolution. This can be by just putting a system onboard of a ship that helps our client to be compliant with emission regulations and cutting their fuel bill, all the way to smart predictive and analytics platform enabling customer to work on their sensor and inspection data in house, supported by ABB’s analytics team.”
Within ABB, the OCTOPUS software plays a role in much broader product portfolio that one hand aims provide ship-owners and – operators with solutions that make their ships more energy efficient, and at the same time help them to meet and support the increasing demands from environmental regulations such as the IMO Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) and future European Union Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) rules. ABB’s OCTOPUS’ MRV software has been certified by Verifavia as an accredited method of data collection monitoring within the EU’s Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulation requirements.
Another sound example of energy efficient solutions is the Torductor Marine, which works seamlessly with the OCTOPUS software. This torque measurement system optimizes engine and fuel efficiency of sea-going vessels. Contactless sensors are mounted facing the propeller shaft that sends the information to OCTOPUS, which visualizes the data. ABB recently got an order from Torvald Klaveness to equip three of their new build combination carriers with OCTOPUS reporting software in combination with the Torductor Marine, in order to help Klaveness to meet emission regulations. Examples of other integrated efficiency solutions are ABB’s Cylmate for continuous & real-time monitoring system for 2-stroke diesel engines - reducing the cost for fuel, maintenance and unplanned engine stops -, and Coriolis Fuel mass flow meters. These flowmeters manage fuel consumption responsibly, considering ecologic, economic and legal reasons, requires an innovative fuel management system based on reliable, highly accurate and durable flow sensors.
About ABB Ability ABB Ability brings together for the first time all of our digital products and services, each built from our unique combination of sector knowledge, technology leadership and digital expertise, to create real business value for our customers. http://new.abb.com/abb-ability
About ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 132,000 employees. www.abb.com.
source: NafsGreen
