Hidrovias do Brasil has signed a seven-year, long-term optimised maintenance agreement with Wärtsilä for two river pusher tugs, operating in northern Brazil
This agreement covers predictive maintenance and optimisation of Wärtsilä 20 engines. Wärtsilä will implement its data-driven dynamic maintenance planning and Expert Insight innovations as part of this agreement which includes remote support and using sensors and real-time data for insights into fuel efficiency, machinery condition and performance.
Wärtsilä will use these technologies to maximise vessel uptime through maintenance when required, instead of according to a set number of operating hours. This agreement also involves spare parts planning, co-ordination and training.
Hidrovias vessels operate where it is challenging to plan and execute maintenance procedures. “Long-term maintenance contracts guarantee the reliability and availability of the Wärtsilä engines installed in our main pushers,” said Hidrovias do Brasil maintenance manager Ricardo Brandalise.
“Under this contract we receive technical support from the engine manufacturer, parts for preventative maintenance and remote monitoring of the engines’ performance,” he said.
“This is a strategic area for us because of the gains it provides through well-managed maintenance. Therefore, we identified the need to continue with a long-term contract in partnership with Wärtsilä.”
Expert Insight is a digital service Wärtsilä said has taken predictive maintenance to a higher level. It uses artificial intelligence and advanced diagnostics to monitor equipment and systems in real time. When anomalous behaviour is detected, it is flagged to specialists at Wärtsilä’s expertise centres, enabling them to support Hidrovias proactively with an appropriate resolution to the issue.
“Optimised maintenance agreements are part of Wärtsilä’s lifecycle solutions offering and are designed to improve our customers’ business performance and competitiveness,” said Wärtsilä Marine Power general manager for agreement sales in Americas Marcelo Barthaburu. “With these agreements, we are able to increase availability and ensure optimal efficiency,” he explained.
“The addition of Expert Insight to our lifecycle offering takes predictive maintenance and optimisation to levels never seen before, thus enabling reduced unplanned maintenance and optimised fuel efficiency with a corresponding reduction in emissions,” Mr Barthaburu added.
Data-driven dynamic maintenance planning enables the fine-tuning of operating parameters and adjustments of maintenance intervals for main components.
This service increases the uptime of assets and reduces lifecycle costs by optimising major overhaul intervals, without compromising operational reliability or engine efficiency.
This is the second maintenance agreement of this nature between Wärtsilä and Hidrovias after a 2017 contract covering eight river pusher tugs operating in Paraguay.
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