A New Era in Maritime Maintenance Management
Navigating Elomatic’s Manta APM
Author: Nico Lehtinen
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
In the journey towards green shipping, energy efficiency and decarbonization continue to stand out as critical factors. To ensure the maritime industry plays its part in achieving sustainability and complies with IMO and EU rules and regulations, efficient maintenance management is imperative. Elomatic has taken a significant step forward with the development of Manta Asset Performance Management (APM) system, which promises tools to improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance sustainability.
The maritime industry is facing significant challenges. It is clear that both the European Union and the IMO on a global scale are deeply committed to environmental protection, making decarbonization a top priority. In the aftermath of MEPC80, international benchmarks have been established, following EU’s lead in creating a strong regulatory framework and ambitious environmental goals with the maritime industry now striving to achieve a 20% reduction in all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, 70% reduction by 2040 and Net-Zero by 2050.
It is widely recognized that a significant portion of the decarbonization efforts in the coming decade will stem from optimizing vessel’s existing assets.
The exposure to these regulations, carbon pricing, and CII ratings will be essential commercial considerations for any ship owner or operator. They will need support in developing innovative and sustainable solutions to comply with tightening upcoming rules. In this evolving scenario, digital technologies such as asset performance management systems assume a pivotal role by facilitating the efficient use of resources, lowering emissions, and consequently boosting the competitiveness of shipping companies.
Optimizing existing assets
Ships and vessels require regular upkeep and maintenance to run efficiently. For shipping operators, the safety of the lives and cargo onboard as well as the security of their assets are critical. A shipping company can incur significant losses if the ship has an unexpected breakdown, therefore, there is simply no room for error when it comes to ship maintenance and repair.
This is where the value of APM systems becomes evident, serving as vital tools for improving transparency to ship’s operations enhancing safety, reducing costs, and supporting sustainability initiatives. These types of systems enable shipping companies to operate more effectively in a highly competitive and regulated industry while also reducing their environmental impact.
Furthermore, it is widely recognized that a significant portion of the decarbonization efforts in the coming decade will stem from optimizing vessel’s existing assets. Optimizing route planning and voyages could potentially reduce energy consumption by around 8%, while optimizing maintenance activities with the support of an APM system such as Manta could achieve approximately 2% savings, if not more. Though these percentages may seem insignificant, they are not. Every improvement counts. Over the course of a decade, the most significant savings and impacts are expected to come from advancements in technology and infrastructure, like synthetic fuels, biofuels, and ship upgrades.
Enabling full control of vessels
As ships grow in complexity, the data they generate becomes increasingly challenging to manage, making sustained investment in software engineering crucial. What is even more significant from Elomatic’s perspective is providing tools to measure the impact of investments in new technology and compare results across different operating styles, utilizing fleet-wide data, as we do. This key objective is to empower shipowners and operators to maintain full control of their vessels and continuously optimize their performance.
There are several key factors we need to take into account when considering investment in asset performance management systems:
- Efficient Maintenance Management: APM streamlines the maintenance and repair processes for ships. It helps in the planning, scheduling, and tracking of maintenance tasks including dry-docking, ensuring that critical components and systems are in optimal condition. This efficiency is vital for reducing downtime and avoiding costly breakdowns at sea.
- Cost Reduction: By optimizing maintenance activities, APM can help shipping companies reduce operational costs. It enables proactive maintenance, preventing the need for expensive emergency repairs and overhauls. This, in turn, contributes to cost savings.
- Safety and Compliance: Ensuring the safety of crew members and compliance with maritime regulations are top priorities for the shipping industry. Modern software technologies can simplify the inspection processes with classification societies, reducing unnecessary pauses across the operation and improving safety through continuous asset monitoring.
- Asset Lifecycle Management: APM assists in tracking the lifespan of ship components and equipment. It helps companies make informed decisions about repair, refurbishment, or replacement, optimizing the lifespan of assets and reducing waste.
Taking all of this into account, Elomatic has been working on the development of Manta APM, a ground-breaking system which was developed in collaboration with the expert software company, Silo AI and with the support of DNV and Bureau Veritas, among other stakeholders. Our aim with this software is to revolutionize technical operations across the maritime sector.
Predictive maintenance offers early warnings to ship staff about failing machinery, allowing them to take proactive measures well in advance.
Minimizing downtime and breakdowns
Downtime and breakdowns within the marine industry translate into significant losses of time, money, and operational resources – an outcome that is imperative to prevent. Through collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders and a deep understanding of the critical challenges faced at each operational stage, the development of Manta APM has made significant progress. These insights have underscored the importance of embracing a proactive approach to asset maintenance.
For instance, the software collects and analyses data from across multiple systems identifying irregularities and problems before they develop into serious failures. This comprehensive data collection enables us to make highly precise predictions about potential ship breakdowns and schedule maintenance proactively. When breakdowns occur during a voyage, they can lead to delays due to repairs or the high expenses associated with acquiring spare parts in ports lacking established suppliers. Predictive maintenance offers early warnings to ship staff about failing machinery, allowing them to take proactive measures well in advance.
What makes Manta APM unique?
Manta stands out from other similar APMs because it combines Elomatic’s engineering expertise with the additional services we offer, from life cycle support and consultancy to design and project management. Our strong engineering background brings a unique perspective to the software, ensuring that it is tailored to the specific needs and challenges of the industry. The emphasis on user experience and data integration is paramount, aligning with our commitment to supporting emissions reduction efforts.
Ease of use is a key advantage of Manta APM. The design of the platform allows easy data input and management, making it accessible to a wide range of users, including employees both on ships and onshore. Therefore, both onshore users and chief engineers onboard can benefit from the data in the same way. They can analyze the entire fleet, make informed investment decisions, plan dry dockings more accurately, and have a better understanding of the ship’s technical operations.
Modularity is another highlight of Manta APM, which offer customers the flexibility to only purchase the modules that are necessary for their specific needs. This approach ensures that the software can be easily tailored to match the unique requirements of each customer.
Key features of Manta APM
To meet the unique needs of the maritime industry Manta APM features, include:
- Work Management: Plan, schedule, execute, and report on maintenance activities and inspections onboard.
- Asset Management: Easily access all relevant information concerning ships’ assets and equipment.
- Document Management: Attach documents to work orders, assets, comments, parts, and more.
- Inventory Management: Automatically update ship inventory upon completion of maintenance work.
- Seamless Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between ship (offline) and office (online) environments.
Future plans
Manta APM represents a significant step forward in maritime maintenance management. Its development will be rolled out in two phases. Phase 1 focused heavily on software development and is set to culminate with the launch of Manta by the end of 2023. Phase 2 will concentrate on improving data analysis, enhancing existing features, and conducting software testing in collaboration with partners.
The development of an innovative solutions such as Manta APM seamlessly integrates Elomatic Marine’s digital services and aligns with our ambition to minimize the environmental impact and operating costs of shipping, whilst expanding the customer base, encompassing both shipyards and ship owners. We are continuously developing the product in order to better serve shipowner and operator customers in their technical, environmental, and operational challenges.
This is Elomatic’s most ambitious software development venture to date, driven by the collaborative efforts of team members from Canada and Finland. Looking ahead, we envision expanding the digital platform beyond the marine sector and extending its functionality to other business units across the company. We are committed to top engineering, knowledge sharing, and digital innovation as we transition to a more sustainable future.
Accelerating sustainable shipping
Through the optimization of assets, Manta APM will ensure the reliability and efficiency of shipping operations, enhancing shipping companies’ competitiveness and cost efficiency. When integrated with broader digitalization initiatives, it will empower key players from across the industry to make data-driven decisions that can result in reduced emissions, improved energy efficiency, and ultimately, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly shipping sector.
Through this software, we are continuing to support the industry’s efforts to mitigate climate change and create a greener future.
Nico Lehtinen
Master of Science in Technology
Nico has extensive experience in the marine industry and shipyards. He possesses expertise in various areas, including operational planning, production management, IT development projects, and project management. Currently, Nico works as the Head of the Digital Transformation Office.
nico.lehtinen@elomatic.com
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