Affected from COVID-19 restrictions and challenges, key shipping players are conducting remote inspections and surveys in efforts to continue efficient operations. Bureau Veritas and DNV GL found the solution by using remote technology.
Firstly, BV, in respect of the health and safety of their employees, deployed remote inspection, remote supervision and augmented inspection services in multiple use cases and business units around the world.
The Group is using remote inspections as an alternative way, as restrictions see limited or no physical access to site, and experts are not available immediately or when sites are affected by travel bans or restrictions.
In the meantime, BV is able to provide 3D inspections boosting efforts to eliminate direct contact and improve social distancing best practices while continuing to meet clients’ needs.
Following the same path, DNV GL’s Machinery Maintenance Connect (MMC) is its new remote approach to the machinery planned maintenance system (MPMS). How it works is that machinery data can be processed via algorithms and presented to customers in a digital dashboard – enabling the survey of a complete fleet in one process and unlocking new insights into vessel and fleet performance.
Their system provides a complete breakdown of any maintenance already completed and overdue, with the dates of the work. By collating and presenting the data owners and operators can access data in real time to create a maintenance plan that can predict the requirements of individual vessels and, with AIS, utilize repair yards local to the position of the vessel.
For the time being, DNV GL has more than 300 vessels using this technology, with up to 100 surveys conducted to date.
Similar examples using remote technology for their operations are Lloyd’s Register, that conducted a six-day, three-person audit for a marine and offshore company through remote technology, and the Liberian Registry announced implementation of the first ever remote Annual Safety Inspection (ASI) aboard their ships, in a bid to adjust to the COVID-19 disruptions, using remote inspections as a direct response to the major restrictions.