Tugboat to test ship monitoring and diagnostics

Software aids management of engines, generators, thrusters and critical systems

The tugboat Guide – operated by Crowley Maritime Corporation out of Seattle, USA - is being fitted with a custom vessel monitoring and diagnostics solution which will keep watch over its main engines, generators, thrusters and critical systems.
The Cat Asset Intelligence software will be supported by the Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence team which will provide advisory and management reports including recommendations for individual equipment, as well as recommending additional ways in which Crowley can save money and improve operations.
“It’s a robust system that does all the key monitoring and analysis we need,” said Bill Metcalf, vice president of strategic engineering for Crowley Maritime. “We’re looking at it as the next level of management and optimisation. We want to see how it can help us increase reliability, safety and efficiency on board our vessels.
"Unlike technologies that only monitor engine performance, Cat Asset Intelligence services provide monitoring and diagnostics for an entire vessel, including many of its critical operating systems.
"Cat Asset Intelligence will monitor and analyse anything—not just Cat products. That was a big selling point as we, like many others, have a wide variety of equipment that is critical to our success.”
With the software monitoring and analysing Guide’s key systems, Crowley Maritime expects to see value in a number of areas.
"It can give us early warning of a catastrophic failure so we can schedule maintenance. It can save us time and money during the inspection process. It can help us keep our vessels and people out of harm’s way,” Metcalf said.
“We’re also looking at fuel savings. That’s not likely to be a big issue on Guide, because of its size and application, but it could be huge for our larger vessels.”
On smaller vessels like Guide, which operate with a limited crew, Cat Asset Intelligence’s remote monitoring capabilities play a critical role.

Tugboat Guide is fitted with Cat Asset Intelligence software
Caterpillar

“Guide is a four-man boat, which means the chief engineer also serves as a deckhand when he’s on duty,” Metcalf said. “This technology will make his job easier. And as it is accessible for our engineering staff, adding another set of eyes on the vessel, another level of comfort for the captain and operations team.”
Crowley Maritime has established a governance committee to analyse the software’s performance on board Guide and, if it proves valuable, hopes to expand vessel monitoring and diagnostics to other ships in its fleet.
Metcalf said: “Caterpillar has been a good partner with Crowley for many years, and they’ve been at this for a long time. This process is in place in mines and factories. It’s the next logical step in marine technology and we want to be early adopters if it adds value.
“It’s very scalable and customizable. That’s one of the things we liked about this technology.”
Source:
http://www.cat.com/en_US/news/engine-press-releases/crowley-maritime-testing-caterpillar-technology-for-vessel-monitoring-diagnostics.htm