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Tanker trial proves digital course for ship classification
Remote ship classification and compliance have moved a step closer to approved reality after a successful trial on a product tanker during a voyage to Singapore
Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Latsco Shipping have successfully trialled digital class assurance through a pilot project on a medium range product tanker. They intend to extend this digital survey approach to other tankers and gas carriers in the fleet to validate the framework’s repeatability for digital class assurance.
LR and Latsco demonstrated how verified, operational vessel data can fully meet class survey requirements without compromising quality, integrity and safety.
A proof-of-concept was undertaken on 2017-built product tanker Hellas Margarita during a cross-ocean voyage to Singapore.
An LR team remotely tested, recorded and verified the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel’s auxiliary engine alarms, controls, shutdowns and safety systems through raw data capture. LR said the process was validated by a physical inspection, confirming the digital approach delivered the same level of assurance, accuracy and safety as traditional methods.
“The results confirmed that data-driven methodologies can match and potentially exceed the technical assurance and data integrity of conventional onboard physical surveys,” said LR.
“While existing regulations still require physical attendance for survey requirements, this project demonstrates how verified operational data could allow for more efficient, transparent and scalable compliance processes, reducing the need for physical attendance and enabling smarter fleet management.”
Latsco and LR intend to jointly extend the methodology test across additional vessels and systems to validate the repeatability of these digital processes and then establish a pilot scheme for digital class assurance.
“This initiative proves that trusted operational data can be used to credit survey requirements without compromising safety or technical integrity, while giving our vessels greater flexibility within increasingly tight trading schedules,” said Latsco chief operating officer Antonis Georgantzis.
Latsco technology manager Iasonas Zacharioudakis added, “Using telemetry, we verified that survey items can be credited on data-proven judgements with enhanced transparency and trust compared with the traditional approach. Raw data becomes a real operational and safety advantage.”
Monaco-headquartered Latsco operates 33 vessels with a combined tonnage of 3.1M dwt including nine medium-range product tankers, eight very large gas carriers, five LR2 range product carriers and four very large crude carriers.
“This proof of concept gives confidence that digitalisation is an enabler within the maritime industry without compromising safety or integrity,” said Lloyd’s Register vice president for Greece and Cyprus, Elina Papageorgiou.
“By validating the use of verified operational data for survey assurance, we are taking an important step towards a smarter, more connected maritime industry.”
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