Page 19: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Sep/Oct 2019)

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Jones Act container ships have spent, on average, three de- NAPA Fleet Intelligence acquires hourly AIS data and global cades in service. The international average is 11.5. For bulkers, weather data, and we collate them for each vessel’s specifc op- the numbers are even further apart: 38 years old in the USA, and erational history. This includes position, speed, wind conditions, nine internationally. sea currents, and wave and swell height, direction and period.

It’s worth emphasizing that these vessels all undergo periodical As part of this process, NAPA can combine this with advanced surveys by their fag state administration or classifcation soci- structural analysis – as well as the experience it has gained as ety and are therefore legally safe to sail. But with so many miles the provider of the ship design software used for more than 90% under their belts, how much longer can they be expected to earn of ocean-going newbuilds – to create a digital twin of the vessel enough to make a proft as well as supporting maintenance and that reliably estimates remaining fatigue life, and safety profle. ongoing compliance requirements? It would be possible to use this information to derive a fnancial assessment of a ship.

A SURVEY A DAY KEEPS OFF-HIRE AWAY The scientifc research which provides the foundation of these

Recent technology developments that provide a ship’s minute- structural and wave estimates is not new. They are the outcome by-minute position via AIS and make it easy to identify the local of numerous empirical investigations over the past decade, which weather enable you to build an accurate timeline of a ship’s op- have proven their underlying effectiveness. However, it has not erations and the environmental conditions in which it operated. been possible until recently to combine them in one simple, easy-

Combine this data and connect it with structural analysis software to-use package.

and you are provided with a valuable estimate of a ship’s current In comparison to other non-destructive fatigue detection meth- and future service needs. ods, this provides an optimized experience and can substantially www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 19

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