Preventive maintenance and live condition-monitoring
MacGREGOR’s new ‘Onboard Care’ service programme combines live remote condition monitoring with planned maintenance, which ensures that shipboard cargo handling equipment is always available when needed
MacGREGOR introduced its new ‘Onboard Care’ service programme at a conference recently in Dubai . The new programme ensures the availability of shipboard access and cargo care equipment wherever a ship happens to be. New diagnostics tools have made it practical to monitor equipment condition and send this information ashore for analysis and record-keeping.
 “The idea is not new, but we had to wait for new technology to make it work,” says Hans Pettersson, president. “In 1997 we defined service as: ‘the ability to give our partner-shipowners the freedom to concentrate on pursuing their core business and maximising profitable operations, knowing that their fleet’s key revenue-enhancing systems are receiving attention from a specialist’.
“The message is the same today, but we now have the technology and communication media that enable us to offer real-time condition monitoring of our products wherever they are. This is backed up by our ability to provide routine and preventative maintenance services worldwide. Our new Onboard Care programme establishes a new standard in after-sales support capability. We plan to do what we do best, and allow shipowners to concentrate on their core business.”
By combining resources in an appropriately tailored package, customer and supplier can both reap the benefits of lower costs and around-the-clock equipment availability, says Mario Greiner, vice president responsible for marketing and business development. “Profitability for owners, operators and the company can be maximised by concentrating service and maintenance activities in one harmonised process.
“MacGREGOR alone cannot effect realisation of this latest development. It requires a joint undertaking by the customer and the company to harmonise their individual service processes, thereby eliminating duplication of effort and resources, and ultimately offering cost savings to the customer. Onboard Care maximises the equipment lifetime profitability demanded by the market. It also adds to the retail value of the equipment and the ship itself.”
Choice of service level
Shipowners and operators can choose from four Onboard Care packages to suit the level of security and comfort they need.
Total Onboard Care package: The Company takes full responsibility for maintenance, providing predictable operating costs and complete peace of mind
Special Onboard Care: for operators preferring to depend on MacGREGOR as a maintenance specialist
Enhanced Onboard Care: for companies that handle their own equipment maintenance, but require crew training and periodic services provided by a specialist
Basic Onboard Care: for companies that handle their regular maintenance but want to avoid unforeseen equipment failure.
It has been running pilot projects since 2002 that have established the effectiveness of remotely monitoring shipboard equipment from anywhere in the world. Information about the condition of hatch covers and cranes on board three general cargo ships has been transmitted ashore, and analysed. On Gearbulk’s 47,800 dwt three-year-old Cedar Arrow, MacGREGOR has been monitoring the hatch covers, and on B&N Nordsjöfrakt’s 16,700 dwt Nordon the ship’s three ‘K’ cranes too.
Similarly the three GL cranes on board Rickmers Reederei’s 23,000 dwt CMA/CGM Licorne have been transmitting real-time diagnostic data to MacGREGOR’s service teams.
A passenger ship project is also about to start. Two existing passenger ship equipment management systems are ideally suited for remote condition monitoring: MacGREGOR’s computerised Cool Control system manages provisions stores temperatures, air cooler defrosting sequences, chillers and plant room supervision, alarms and control. Similarly KONE’s E-Link elevator management system can already provide features such as traffic analysis and on-screen maintenance support |
Posted by Editor Offshore Arabia Magazine
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