Samsung Heavy Industries and MAN Energy Solutions say they are ’advancing smart ship technology’ by way of a new agreement
The companies say their memorandum of understanding is intended to create a framework for long-term strategic co-operation to develop technologies and systems to digitalise marine engines.
The agreement is one of several co-operative arrangements the two companies have independently agreed around digitalisation initiatives, as players in the industry position themselves in a bid for market share in a more digitalised shipping industry.
In January, Samsung and engine manufacturer WinGD began a collaboration to develop remote engine diagnosis technology applicable to LNG-fuelled vessels, according to Samsung.
And in July, MAN signed a digital technology development partnership with another South Korean shipyard, Daewoo and South Korean diesel engine manufacturer HSD Engine. The agreement came after MAN announced it had developed a cloud-based platform through which it would roll out paid-for, remote digital monitoring services to its customers.
In a statement about their agreement with Samsung, MAN Energy Solutions research and development lead in the two-stroke engines division Brian Østergaard Sørensen reiterated the company’s drive to collaborate, saying "Digital technologies and the business models based on these technologies will transform the maritime industry. It is our firm belief that cross-industry co-operation is essential to the success of the digital transition, and we continue to take an active role in driving this with our partners.”
According to Samsung, the agreement centres on further developing main marine engine operating services by applying MAN’s digital engine diagnosis and control technology to Samsung’s cloud-based smart ship system.
MAN said the agreement encompasses digitalisation of marine engine and auxiliary systems data and the collection and visualisation of that data to track performance and diagnose problems.
Additionally, the two businesses will work together to design and develop technology for a ’smart ship’ and engine diagnostics platform as well as on testing and verification of research and development results.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.