A combination of extremely precise laser scanning technology, photography and 3D modelling makes it very easy for the Greek firm XYZ to securely map out interior spaces (e.g. engine rooms). During Shakedown, the final event of PortXL, founder and owner Stefanos Katsolis demonstrated the different possibilities offered by XYZ’s system.
PortXL is the start-up accelerator programme for port innovators in Rotterdam. During the Shakedown event on 30 June, twelve selected start-ups presented the fruits of 100 days of ‘business building’ together with a team of mentors, partners and experts. XYZ was one of the participating firms.
3D model
Katsolis: “Ships are complicated structures that consist of all sorts of compartments, thousands of metres of pipelines and conduits, and a veritable ‘rat’s nest’ of electric cables. Up to now, technicians expanding an existing on-board system or installing a new one had to make do with blueprints and 2D depictions. Now, this process can be made a lot more efficient. We use our equipment to make an extremely precise scan of the ship’s different sections. This information is converted into a 3D model or drawing, so that planners can take a Virtual Reality tour of the vessel, for example, to determine exactly where and how to adapt the ship’s infrastructure.”
Ballast water
“Our services are perfect for determining the best location for a ship’s on-board Ballast Water Treatment System, for example,” continues Katsolis. “Indeed, this particular segment has already shown considerable interest in our innovations. From both companies in Greece, but also here: we have also just rounded off a pilot project with Vopak. They were more than ‘pleasantly surprised’. We have received EUR 25,000 from the European Union to bring our start-up to the next level. To further develop and roll out our concept, we will need another EUR 400,000 over the next two years. To this end, we are currently looking for external investors.”
Source: Port Of Rotterdam
