Crew cost and competency

© ABB Inc.April 13, 2023 | Slide 1

Top concerns for the marine sectorControlling crew cost andraising competency

Stuart Melling, manager for marine and crane service, ABB Ltd

© ABB Inc. April 13, 2023 | Slide 2

Top concerns for the marine sectorControlling crew cost and competency

Marine industry’s challenge:

To recruit crew with relevant competence and experience at right price

Crew costs are one of highest operational costs

Outsourcing specialist tasks such as electrical plant healthcare and maintenance can help to:

realise lower crew training costs (including periodic re-certification which may be needed)

reduce need for specialisation

keep abreast of latest technological developments

supplier brings a range of advanced monitoring, measuring and reporting tools

efficiently keeps plant up and running

can significantly cut maintenance cost


Top concerns for the marine sectorControlling crew cost and competency

ABB adds significant value by offering maintenance and engineering support through:

Step 1: use of ABB engineers

trained in various marine-standard electrical, automation and instrumentation disciplines

can join vessels globally

make quick impact on engineering efficiency of on-board plant

Step 2: using a series of highly advanced engineering tools, like remote diagnostics:

major impact on vessel performance

dramatically cut the cost of maintenance

Step 3: competency management – marine academies

ABB’s marine academies’ train staff with broad range of engineering, power and automation courses.


Top concerns for the marine sectorStep 2: Highly advanced engineering tools

Remote diagnostics

Remote diagnostic services (RDS):

monitor, measure and alert to faults

from vessel thruster systems, motors, drives, switchgear, circuit breakers to protection relays, instrumentation and automation systems

although very advanced functions RDS is straightforward to implement and user-friendly

RDS comprises:

remote connection

diagnostic solutions

service agreements



Remote connection:

links up vessel’s engineers at sea with a qualified ABB service engineer, located onshore

ABB engineer can monitor, analyse and troubleshoot

ABB Computer Center:

Central network of high-availability servers at onshore ABB Computer Center manage all customers’ systems

Can be accessed via RDS and their authorised users



Remote connection

Virtual service engineer (VSE):

software package installed on ABB computers on customer’s side

acts as a software-site-manager

sets up secure, encrypted communication with service centre

signals its availability and readiness for a remote maintenance session

with VSE-installed PC connected to internet from anywhere, VSE will automatically contact service centre to make remote connection



Remote connection

ABB service engineer:

authorised ABB service engineer can log on to service centre

request permission to connect to a vessel’s installed diagnostics system

series of diagnostics can be carried out to help

helps operator determine status of equipment

in event of a problem, source rapidly identified

Modularity

system completely modular

allows expansion from monitoring and diagnosis of a few critical components or subsystems, to a full multi-disciplinary diagnostic system of power plant and electric propulsion system



Diagnostic solutions

Purpose built hardware platform

allows collection and correlation of data for condition monitoring and troubleshooting from variable-speed drives, PLCs and switchboard relays

device allows sharing of data collected from individual components or sub-systems

simple and intuitive functions for on-demand monitoring of signals

storage of all recorded data in database for later reference



Service agreements

Provides fast and efficient remote support of ABB’s full marine technology portfolio

Service agreements configured to suit individual customer needs

Troubleshooting - on demand connection by an ABB service engineer

Prevention - in addition to the above, ABB service engineer periodically connects to remote system, performs a detailed health-check and advises corrective measures

Continuous - in addition to the above, critical alarms and process statuses are relayed to ABB service centre from where counter-measures can be launched



Service agreements

Scheduled and unscheduled cases are handled by ABB marine RDS Operations Center in Norway

manned 24/7/365

RDS team trained to support all ABB marine systems included in RDS programme

all incidents and requests are logged by engineer on duty

on-call service initiated by remote support and is performed by qualified service personnel from closest ABB global marine services centre


Top concerns for the marine sectorStep 3: Competency management – marine academies

Training is priority throughout marine sector

Having high level of crew competency ensures efficient and safe vessel operations

ABB compiled comprehensive schedule of courses:

Marine academies in Singapore or Finland

Interactive on-board training sessions

e-learning

Courses are:

tailored towards particular vessel types and DNV approved

cover general, safety and advanced system training



Target groups:

technical crew, deck crew, other marine professionals

Technical crew:

electrical engineers and mechanical engineers

Dedicated courses are provided for deck officers

General courses introduce ABB on-board system

contents tailored according to actual customer installation

advanced courses deepen customer’s knowledge by focusing on one sub-system at a time



Safety courses for marine high voltage systems and Azipod confined spaces

provides knowledge and skills for managing risks

adapt safe working methods of high voltage environments and confined spaces

contents in accordance with accepted international standards, rules and regulations

Hands-on learning environments for:

existing marine drive types

switchgear equipment

full-size large Azipod hydraulic steering unit

Azipod C systems

marine automation

diesel electric Azipod vessel operation



On-board training approach is about co-operation and learning together

ABB marine field engineer is instructor

Engineer executes, together with a crew, a list of tasks agreed in advance

Training objectives stated together with the actual crew

electronic Maintenance Support Tool (eMST®)

Novel concept enabling just-in-time access to highly focused e-learning material

delivers instructions for daily crew maintenance tasks



Produced by specialised ABB organisation that includes:

full-time project management personnel

experienced ABB marine maintenance specialists

complete network of subcontractors from area of graphical and usability design

eMST® objectives always agreed with customer and depends on:

scope of ABB equipment

amount of crew tasks

desired competence level of crew

Learning content is exclusively system specific and includes:

photos, videos, animations and instructional texts produced for the actual on board system


Top concerns for the marine sectorSummary

Many variables to consider

Marine operators should take great care to implement strategy that meets business needs and financial constraints

Combination of managing crew competency with outsourced assistance for irregular or specialised operations

While many traditional maintenance techniques are still applicable, new technology is allowing vessel operators to:

reduce training and crew costs

whilst improving equipment effectiveness

© ABB Group April 13, 2023 | Slide 17

Crew cost and competency

Technology

abb marine systems

abb service centre

abb engineers

marine sectorstep

abb computers

remoteconnection abb

abb ltdtop concerns

maintenance cost abb