PSA Marine and Bureau Veritas (BV) have completed a remote marine survey on a recently delivered LNG-powered harbour tug in Singapore
They were supported by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore to complete the first remote survey and accreditation of a harbour tug registered under the Singapore Registry of Ships.
BV conducted a fully accredited annual survey on dual-fuel tug PSA Aspen. Crew on board and a class surveyor in BV’s Singapore office used smart mobile devices and live-streaming applications to complete the survey remotely.
“We are delighted to partner with BV in piloting the first remote annual marine survey for harbour tugs in Singapore,” said PSA Marine managing director Peter Chew.
“The innovative technologies used in the remote survey have enabled PSA Marine to complete our surveys on schedule despite Covid-19, while ensuring our harbour tugs continue serving our customers without delay or disruptions,” he said.
“Our staff have embraced these changes and technologies with agility and resilience. They are fully supportive of PSA Marine’s continuing efforts to build a smarter, safer and more efficient fleet of the future,” said Mr Chew.
During the survey, the BV surveyor conveyed instructions live to PSA Aspen’s crew. He could visualise and record the relevant images and real-time video, while archiving material for the electronic survey report. This overcomes the challenges of physical distancing measures and travel restrictions imposed in the wake of Covid-19.
PSA Marine’s pilot project has demonstrated how the capability works in practice for robust remote surveys and sets a template for the future.
“Remote surveying techniques not only help us to manage the Covid-19 situation, but also enhances standards of efficiency, safety and sustainability in the ship survey process,” said Singapore’s MPA director of shipping and marine Goh Chung Hun.
“Since the onset of Covid-19, MPA has been conducting remote surveys on Singapore-registered ships,” he continued. “We are encouraged to see this first remote survey for a PSA Marine harbour tug and will regularly review technologies as they mature for ship inspections to be carried out in a transparent and reliable manner,” said Mr Hun.
BV and PSA Marine are optimistic that process automation and digital technology, such as remote surveys, will increasingly be accepted and adopted as the new normal in a post-Covid-19 world.
“We are ready to deliver remotely and have started developing a worldwide network of remote survey centres,” said BV vice president for marine and offshore David Barrow. “We can see that the pandemic has accelerated an understanding of the potential of digitally delivered services.”
“Our work with PSA Marine focused on delivering pragmatic digital services. It is helping to ensure operational continuity while building trust and supporting innovation and Singapore’s digital transformation roadmap,” said Mr Barrow.
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