Vibration monitoring in vessel performance trial
15/09/2021
Car carrier operator Neptune Lines is hosting shipboard trials of a next-level digital service for marine powertrain condition analysis in a collaborative initiative between METIS Cyberspace Technology and Geislinger.The trials will interconnect the latest Geislinger GMS Mk6 continuous monitoring and measuring system for rotating components of the entire marine propulsion powertrain with the METIS Internet of Things (IoT) platform for data analytics. The combination will provide superior in-depth analytics to correlate condition evaluations of the ship’s propulsion system with navigational and operational conditions already being analysed by METIS. The new digital service will provide information to the crew and to the technical department regarding the condition of the main engine vibration damper and any abnormalities likely to cause torsional vibrations on the main engine and propulsion shaft.
Rather than creating a common product, METIS and Geislinger are combining knowledge from different domains to connect two cloud-based platforms at the data and service level. The results will offer a realisation of Fourth Industrial Revolution objectives, according to Mike Konstantinidis, CEO, METIS Cybertechnology, with each partner extending performance monitoring functionality.
“For METIS, this is a significant evolution of shipping’s most advanced end-to-end digitalisation platform, which integrates and displays the very best third-party digital services in a one-stop shop for vessel performance analytics,” said Mike. “Sharing specific data benefits decision-making by adding value to analytics and bringing new insights into overall performance.”
Adrian Geislinger added: “Geislinger’s marine clients are fully aware of our expertise in high-performance drivelines and the benefits of our damping technology are routinely verified by advanced monitoring solutions. We are delighted to work with METIS in bringing this expertise to a project integrating latest developments in torsional vibration and vessel performance analytics.”
METIS secured a fleet-wide contract from Neptune Lines to implement its data acquisition and advanced analytics platform in late 2020, in a first artificial intelligence (AI) deployment for vessel performance management by a PCTC owner. The carrier specified additional functionality, including emissions indicator monitoring, anti-fouling coatings performance and generator operations in port.
A second vessel trial of the new METIS-Geislinger approach has already been confirmed for a very large crude carrier. On completion of the proof of concept, the two companies also intend to investigate using AI and machine learning models to benefit predictive maintenance.
