GL Maritime Software, the software and systems integration unit of classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL), in cooperation with SKF, has installed the first prototype of its GL MachineryManager software on board the CSAV Rio Blanco, a car carrier owned and managed by German shipping company F. Laeisz.
GL MachineryManager is a single monitoring platform for on board equipment, which combines visual inspection results with online and offline condition measurements, to warn crew and superintendents when the condition of any equipment has deteriorated – not only on individual vessels but across an entire fleet.
Vibration Monitoring
The installation on the CSAV Rio Blanco took place during a voyage from Vladivostok (Russia) to Pyongtaek (South Korea). During the voyage vibration monitoring measurement locations were prepared on board for forty fans. The data from these locations is collected by handheld vibration monitoring equipment, which is then downloaded into the on board GL MachineryManager system for further analysis.
GL and SKF began cooperating on the development and implementation of this joint solution for condition monitoring of rotating auxiliary machinery on board ships in May 2011. GL and SKF experts also trained the crew in the use of the maintenance management software and the handheld unit, which was provided by SKF.
Condition-Based Maintenance
The new software supports ship owners, managers and operators in the implementation of condition-based maintenance processes. It allows for all of the information generated from online, offline (for example SKF’s handheld units), and visual inspections of machinery and equipment to be integrated into a common platform – irrespective of manufacturer. An early warning system alerts superintendents and fleet managers to potential problems, both in individual vessels and across the fleet. Measurements and recordings from the system can be transferred and collated in a central database onshore. This information can then be utilised to provide an overview of the status of a fleet, allowing for the easy comparison of vessels with the same equipment and the creation of maintenance performance benchmarks.
Picture: GL MachineryManager screenshot from the CSAV Rio Blanco (copyright GL Group)
