Brazil-based Wilson Sons is installing closed circuit TV (CCTV) and wifi networking on its tugboat fleet as part of its ongoing digitalisation programme to improve security, enhance operation transparency and tug performance
Wilson Sons’ innovation laboratory, Tuglab, is implementing these digitalisation processes and hardware. It has installed CCTV, network cabling and wifi on around half of the fleet of tugs operating in various Brazilian ports so far with the rest of the installations due to be completed by the end of this year.
It has put in place a schedule for deployment that takes into account measures required to maintain safety during the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the world.
Wilson Sons said there will be 480 cameras and local internet networks installed during this programme.
There are several security and operational benefits from this investment, said Wilson Sons process co-ordinator Simone Prado. “From the tugboats’ cabling it is possible to migrate several onboard processes to the digital environment, increasing information reliability and facilitating data traceability,” he said.
These CCTV networks bring more security to the tug fleet. Cameras enable real-time visualisation of tugboat operations and manoeuvres by managers and charterers. Recordings make it possible to store and retrieve images from the tugs for 30 days. These could be used for accident and incident investigation analyses, and tug and crew performance studies.
Wilson Sons is also installing wifi hotspots on the bridge, in the galley and engineroom on its tugs allowing crew to connect to the internet and Wilson Sons’ systems by mobile phone or tablet and to hold meetings by video with shore-based teams.
Wilson Sons’ towage division has also integrated several systems which were not accessible on board vessels on a new online platform, allowing it to register tug manoeuvres in real-time on the platform, via mobile phones or tablets.
Another advantage is presenting operational data on an onboard dashboard including reports about the tug, such as water, oil and fuel levels, and other data. This incorporates inspection cycles, maintenance activities, purchase orders and other onboard processes.
This streamlines many daily activities and ensures the company remains updated with IT technology, said Wilson Sons towage division IT manager Juliano Maia.
“Our goal is to make our processes more agile, allowing all resources and information to be on board at the right time, making them more efficient.”
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