Houston-based
ABS Nautical Systems and
Euronav Ship Management (Hellas) Ltd. say they’re celebrating a successful partnership. The tanker company selected
ABS Nautical Systems as its asset management provider in 2009 and was the first
adopter of the Hull Inspection module.
The Hull Inspection module
is a browser-based tool that helps track the structural condition of a vessel
throughout its service life. Euronav currently
uses the Hull Inspection module on 11 of its ABS classed tankers. However, given its successful use of the
program to date, the company plans to continue expanding use of the program to
additional vessels.
“Prior to implementing
Hull Inspection, we used hard-copy forms that made it difficult to organize,
assess and identify conditions. Now, we
are able to see the actual drawings of the vessel with improved visibility of hot
spots and critical areas, such as in a cargo tank,” says Theodore Mavraidis, Euronav’s
fleet technical manager, in a press statement. “Hull Inspection also enables us
to systematically examine and grade the hull structure of each vessel —
providing fleet-wide statistics and trends. ABS Nautical Systems’ Hull
Inspection module is a breakthrough in the area of hull condition monitoring.”
“With Euronav being the
first adopter of Hull Inspection and utilizing it to its fullest potential, we were
able to garner insights from them to make further enhancements to the
functionality of this module,” adds Fernando Lehrer, vice president, product
development for ABS Nautical Systems. “We appreciate the trust Euronav put into
our product and that they strategically mapped out how best to achieve maximum results
and overall value.”
ABS Nautical Systems says
its priority to provide a flexible product has enabled Euronav to successfully
customize the system to serve its goals. Euronav, ABS says, values being in a
position to directly support its own vessels and as such, they greatly relied
on training sessions ABS Nautical Systems provides to simulate actual processes,
giving the crew hands-on experience of exactly how the program works.
“Each of our offices can
create an inspection report — to attach photos, make corrections, upload
reports — thereby gaining a real experience of how the program works,” says
Mavraidis. “I would absolutely recommend
this software and the services.”
The Hull Inspection
program enables users to monitor a vessel’s condition by including a hull
inspection manual outlining areas for Euronav to examine; tools for scheduling,
recording and reporting inspections; and identification of critical areas for
on-going monitoring. Inspection criteria are also established that provides a
visually arresting traffic light status assigned to different zones of the
vessel with a rating system using red, yellow and green indicator lights.
“We are excited that
Euronav chose ABS Nautical Systems’ Hull Inspection module and is pleased with
its offerings and flexibility,” says Karen Hughey, president and chief
operating officer of ABS Nautical Systems. “At a company like Euronav, where
safety and risk aversion are so greatly valued, we are confident that the Hull
Inspection Module will continue to aid in this high standard of vessel
maintenance.”