Marine Maintenance Technology International - April 2016

(^24) ⠿ MARINE MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL | APRIL 2016
⠿ CONDITION-BASED MAINTENANCE
predefined machinery models and work
instructions. Data can be integrated into the
ships’ maintenance management systems
and transmitted to TCM’s headquarters, to
produce a detailed report of the equipment
condition for each vessel, which helps
service engineers plan and prioritize
maintenance work.
“Ensuring equipment reliability is among
our standing objectives, and in this regard
condition monitoring is a very useful tool,”
confirms TCM technical manager Dimitris
Psaradakis. “At the same time, we need to
maintain a consistently high standard of
condition monitoring expertise on every
ship, with a workforce that rotates among
our ships. Therefore, it is important to have
a simple-to-use instrument to monitor the
condition of critical auxiliary machinery.”
Proactive CBM agreements
An important reference for data-based
performance management was the extensive
maintenance management agreement signed
by Wärtsilä last year with Greek LNG carrier
operator and manager GasLog, embracing
seven vessels in the fleet powered by dual-
fuel electric plant. The scope of the deal
includes proactive CBM, maintenance
management, performance monitoring,
and remote online support plus workshop
services for all 28 Wärtsilä 50DF-series dual-
fuel engines in the seven LNG tankers.
By analyzing the data collected and
transmitted over satellite from the ships,
Wärtsilä can supply information regarding
equipment condition, enabling the client
to implement measures to optimize
maintenance and asset performance.
An endorsement of this type of service
support was the five-year maintenance
agreement with Nigerian LNG-owned Bonny
Gas Transport (BGT). The contract is the
first involving Wärtsilä’s data acquisition
system, part of the company’s Genius-
branded service aimed at harnessing the
opportunities presented by digitization.
Wärtsilä will monitor and service the
five 50DF dual-fuel engines on each of six
new, South Korean-built LNG carriers. The
proprietary Dynamic Maintenance Planning
(DMP) system, using CBM, will determine
engine maintenance needs, supplemented
by BGT’s around-the-clock access to online
operational and technical support. “With
the continuous remote monitoring of the
equipment and the dynamic maintenance
planning concept, we can ensure optimal
availability while minimizing the risk of
disruption to operations,” states Simon
Auseth, Wärtsilä’s general manager for
marine agreements.
Swedish-headquartered SPM Instrument
has installed Intellinova Compact systems
on five container ships of the Maersk Line
fleet for online condition monitoring of
each vessel’s four generators and their
bearings. As the machinery is critical to safe
and efficient vessel operation, especially
when maneuvering in confined waters, the
investment is key to reducing the risk of
blackouts. The scope of supply encompasses
both hardware and the Condmaster Ruby
analysis software
“We are confident that, by implementing
the SPM online condition monitoring system,
the electrical power supply system on the
vessels will be operational at all times and
timely action can be taken when needed,”
says Maersk Line’s ship management
With real-time monitoring, the
shipping industry is now able
to conduct vessel maintenance
keyed to performance
services’ electrical support team. “Water in
the bearings, if not addressed in a timely
manner, can result in a reduced air gap
between stator and rotor and, in the worst
case, end in mechanical damage to the
generators with a high impact on vessel
daily running costs. In addition, an online
system will reduce the time necessary for
planned maintenance inspections.”
Through its 2015 purchase of US-based
Engineering Software Reliability Group
(ESRG), Caterpillar Marine has augmented
its offering with the OstiaEdge SmartShip
Monitoring Suite for real-time analytics.
Through improved use of onboard data,
the OstiaEdge suite helps shipowners and
operators to implement a CBM strategy.
This creates value in a number of ways
by identifying potential problems before
failure, automating predictive diagnostic
analytics, and troubleshooting issues more
rapidly. Using real-time analytics on shore
and on board, planning and prioritizing
maintenance expenditure is more effective,
maximizing the return on investment.
Across shipping, condition monitoring
has mainly been on a component level, but
there is a need for it to embrace a broader
systemic view to reduce complexity, cost
and the risk of damage and unscheduled
downtime.
The challenge will be recruiting people
with analytical skills and experience to give
the maximum return from the data. \
ABOVE: Engineers examine dial
gauges on new equipment, but
electronic data in a CBM system
will schedule servicing
LEFT: Proactive condition-based
maintenance is pivotal to
Wärtsilä’s long-term service
agreement covering GasLog-
managed LNG carriers