The shipping industry is constantly embracing and implementing digitalisation to streamline operations, providing safe and efficient logistics solutions and optimising operating costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that business continuity can only be guaranteed by those players who firmly invest in connectivity, smart applications and integrated platforms.
“One of the key tasks of any ship operator is ensuring its vessels are kept fully classed and certified. To guarantee this, we need to overcome movement-limitations in order to keep operating our assets as usual”, says Cristiano Vattuone, Manager Ship Management at Vroon Offshore Services (VOS) Srl. Based in Genoa (Italy), VOS Srl handles integrated management services for a fleet of 16 Offshore-Support Vessels (OSV).
In order to maintain this continuity, VOS Srl has strengthened its collaboration with Classification Society RINA. Among the leaders in its sector, the company has developed a pioneering additional Class notation, named “Remote”, that enables ship operators to perform periodical Class surveys in remote, thereby bringing the certification-process “to the next digital level”.
The process starts with RINA’s review of a vessel’s overall performance, HSE (healthy, safety and environment) statistics, PSC (port state control) observations and non-conformities from previous audits. Once a ship operator and its managed vessels are deemed eligible for the “Remote” notation, an assignment-survey can effectively begin.
In early July, anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel VOS Hestia was selected as pilot unit for this innovative project. Under the professional guidance of VOS Superintendent Sebastian Patuelli, the survey for the assignment of RINA’s “Remote” notation was successfully conducted on an OSV for the very first time, while VOS Hestia was moored in Augusta port (Sicily) awaiting orders.
The remote inspection was broadcasted to the RINA and VOS offices in Genoa. The survey was led from RINA’s Genoa office by Dario Bruni. Acting as Surveyor in charge, he was able to view the vessel online, give instructions and guide the team on board through the vessel. On VOS Hestia, Mr Patuelli conducted the tests required.
The survey commenced on open decks, with an all-round check on cleanliness, life-raft maintenance, conditions of windlasses and chains, before moving to the Engine Room compartments, where tests were conducted on auxiliary generators and equipment performance was verified. Finally, Bridge equipment was tested satisfactorily, with the help of Captain Rando Domenico.
To comply with the RINA’s additional class notation “Remote”, Vroon’s ICT team arranged an on-board “connectivity kit” for flawless 4G wireless connection in all areas on board, including the confined/underdeck spaces (Engine Room, cargo spaces etc.).
The survey was concluded to the full satisfaction of all parties involved, making VOS Hestia the first offshore-support vessel in the world to boast “Remote” notation. With VOS Hestia now incorporated in the “electronic certification dimension”, all subsequent actions on Class certificates can be done electronically in “Remote” eliminating time delays.
Following completion of VOS Hestia’s certification, Vroon and RINA proceeded full speed ahead with auditing the other Italian-flag offshore-supply vessels (OSV) managed by VOS, i.e. VOS Tethys and VOS Purpose in the port of Augusta (Italy), and VOS Thalassa and VOS Prudence in the port of Piraeus (Greece). The process ran smoothly on all audited vessels and, as from Saturday 27 July 2020, all the Italian-flag OSVs under VOS’ Management are holding RINA’s pioneering “Remote” notation.
VOS Srl Business Manager Andrea Cavo says, “We thank RINA for introducing this future-proof solution, which will not only make the certification process more efficient but will also have much wider positive impacts on condition monitoring, automation, data transfer and overall ship efficiencies. This is a concrete example of the benefits that digitalisation can bring to ship operators and charterers. Such innovation is instrumental for the long-term success of our Company”
As a further step to implement its digitalization strategy, Vroon has begun the process to certify the Italian flagged fleet with RINA’s additional class notation “Cyber resilience”.
To learn more about our Genoa fleet, contact chartering@it.vroonoffshore.com.
Vessel particulars VOS Hestia