Reported breaches of security on general cloud services, such as Apple’s iCloud and Amazon, have led to concerns that maritime solutions could be compromised.
Reported breaches of security on general cloud services, such as Apple’s iCloud and Amazon, have led to concerns that maritime solutions could be compromised.
Therefore, the threat posed by potential hackers and online viruses is a key challenge to the development of cloud computing solutions. Developers have overcome these security risks and introduced online services for fleet management and vessel monitoring.
One of the benefits of a cloud-based service is to provide continuous and real-time data on the condition of onboard equipment. Manufacturer Daihatsu Diesel has started working with Japanese classification society ClassNK to create a cloud-based machinery maintenance system. Together they will introduce the ClassNK CMaxs LC-A service for monitoring the condition of marine diesel engines and auxiliary equipment. The service will also be an automatic diagnostic solution for these systems.
ClassNK said there had been a significant amount of research into condition-based monitoring systems for main diesel engines. However, there has been limited research that extends this to engineroom auxiliary equipment. The society said there was an increasing need for condition-based monitoring of this equipment because of the lack of experienced seafarers that can interpret the large amount of sensor data now available on vessels.
ClassNK CMaxs LC-A will use software to analyse engineroom sensor data for automatic condition diagnoses and to detect any early signs of damage to auxiliary equipment. The service will show the condition of a wide variety of equipment in real-time to enable the manufacturer to optimise scheduled overhaul intervals, which ClassNK expects will improve the lifecycle costs and enhance the safety of ship operations. Daihatsu Diesel and ClassNK expect the research project to continue until October 2015.
Software is already available for storing and accessing condition-monitoring data. Ritec is a distributor of Azima DLI programs for critical asset monitoring and evaluation, which provide vibration analysis on ship machinery, with the information stored on a cloud-based server.
The vibration analysis provides early fault detection for failure avoidance, enhanced operational readiness and effective supply chain planning for repairs, Ritec sales manager Ahmed El-Shafei said. The service includes sensor pads at key measurement points, such as on bearings, adapted data readers and an online portal for data and analysis.
“An onboard technician walks around the ship attaching the reader pad to the sensor to collect data,” Mr El-Shafei explained. “This data goes through our automatic diagnostics software so we can identify potential faults and estimate the remaining life of a component. Data is transferred over a portal to our server. We can download this data and then do analysis and diagnostics. We then report back to the ship operator.”
Azima DLI uses a full range of distance support communication protocols and methods. The data available to vessel operators includes machinery condition, vibration trend history, maintenance action suggestions, estimated time to failure and the severity of faults. Other sensors can be included for motor current signal analysis and identifying electrical problems.
Another benefit of using online portals and storage is the availability of data for fleet managers and vessel operators. Siemens has expanded the amount and types of information its Siship EcoMain online service can store. It is a cloud-based portal that stores data from the vessel, enabling fleet managers to access information. The system is also a common platform into which all operating data from the ship’s installations is gathered and processed in a standard format, via a range of onboard interfaces.
“It is a web-based consolidation database that can be used for data mining and it feeds data into third-party systems,” Siemens product manager Patrick Müller said. “Siship EcoMain can interface with ship automation, loading computers, bridge systems, and so on. It is a fleet management platform that can handle a huge amount of data and provide remote access shoreside.”
Siship EcoMain is capable of managing up to 60,000 data points for 18 months and has been used on Maersk’s new Triple E-class container ships and vessels operated by Princess Cruises and Aida Cruises.
Siemens has worked hard to improve the service’s security. “Cybersecurity is very important and we have tested this,” Mr Müller said.
“Siship EcoMain is fully approved by classification societies. We are adding new applications and now the remote diagnostics application is available. Next, we will develop this to enable real-time monitoring for fleet management systems, so onshore staff can monitor vessels and compare ships.”
Siemens has added Napa Logbook as an application to Siship EcoMain. Napa adapted a version of Logbook so it would integrate into the platform. Logbook will provide real-time information from onboard electronic systems to shore-based managers. It automates and regularly synchronises data collection, reducing the time spent on reporting and logging by crew. Napa Logbook also incorporates guidelines and onboard checklists to ensure best practice is maintained. MEC
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.