2.5
BASSnet™ Fleet Management Systems
Per Steinar Upsaker Managing Director and CEO, BASS
Linking strategy, operations and IT Leading shipowners and offshore companies recognize that to achieve positive financial results every part of operations needs to be included in continuous improvement efforts. Each area, from crewing to risk management needs to be addressed separately. This is what is driving the demand for specialized software modules that are easy to implement and use. Yet, to support an overall strategy and the need for top management control there is no alternative to an integrated solution with one common database. For the past ten years, BASS has provided tools to streamline and automate processes, one by one, forming an integrated system. After celebrating our tenth anniversary and record-breaking results in 2007, BASS began 2008 with the launch of our new interactive website, new functionalities on existing systems, and some exciting new products. The release BASSnet™ 2.5 has already been a success. BASS is now nearing completion of the implementation of a broad range of solutions on 80 vessels for CMACGM, the French shipping giant. BASS has also gained market share in the offshore industry, signing contracts with Tanjung Offshore and Bumi Armada – representing a successful BASS project with a Malaysian shipowner. With such a strong start, we remain confident that by focusing on our customers’ needs and delivering software and services that will help maritime companies to future-proof their businesses, 2008 is beginning to look like another successful year – not only for BASS, but for our customers.
2 June 2008
In Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur:
Customers driven innovation While no less than 25 per cent of BASS’s annual budget is devoted to research and development, the primary driver of the company’s product development is the BASS user community. With a total fleet of 1500 vessels and a continuing effort to improve BASSnet™ functionalities, BASS hosted the 2008 Annual Customer Forum in Amsterdam. The event, which took place in April, included
is a modular software that enables you to build one, integrated solution covering all main areas of maritime operations. When modules are served by one central database you can enter data once and reuse it in one process after the other. NEW: Working together, BASSnet™ Risk Manager BASSnet™ Self Assessment and BASSnet™ SAFIR can help companies achieve improved safety, risk management, TMSA and stronger financial results.
Shipping professionals from leading ship owners and operators from all over the world at Customer Forums in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur.
The intuitive user interface of BASSnet™ 2.5 resembles popular applications like Microsoft Office, which makes it easier than ever to learn BASSnet™ in it self. To make it even easier to master, close to 100 interactive turtorials are included to get you started.
According to Martin Bjornebye, General Manager, Research & Development BASS depends on active feedback from the company’s extensive user community to build improved systems. “Without actively
encouraging our users to share experiences and submit requests for new functionalities, we can’t tailor our solutions to meet the specific challenges faced by today’s shipping and offshore companies. As a software company, we must not only work to educate the market but be willing to learn as well,” says Bjornebye. “Only by working together can we build better systems to streamline fleet management.”
Tutorials also available on the web. The same interactive training turorials that are built right into the BASSnet™ system, are also available on our web site for registered users wherever they are.
BASSnet™ 2.5: Advanced tools to improve your business Loaded with new products, functionalities and user-friendly tools, BASSnet™ 2.5 is the most advanced, comprehensive and easy-to-use fleet management system available to the industry. In response to industry demand for more robust software tools to help improve bottom line results, BASS has launched BASSnet™ 2.5, a fully integrated suite of software tools designed to help ship managers and offshore companies manage their assets, operations and human resources at sea.
more than 35 shipping professionals from around the world, who met with BASS executives to learn about new BASSnet™ features, share experiences and network. The event featured live software demonstrations, user workshops, presentations and social events. A similar event took place in Kuala Lumpur in September 2007.
“BASS provides seafarers and office personnel with the tools to strengthen competencies, wherever they are.”
BASSnet™ 2.5 includes new modules, upgrades of existing modules, new functionalities and an improved user interface. For example, each integrated BASSnet™ 2.5 module includes intuitive access to context sensitive reports, alerts and help files which require no time-intensive browsing. New products include BASSnet™ Risk Manager, Self Assessment (TMSA) and an upgraded version of its safety management system SAFIR into the system. BASSnet™ 2.5 also comes with a new Report Generator, which allows users with no prior knowledge of database software or SQL to create and design their own reports in BASSnet™. The new modules and functionalities have been designed to bridge the gap between organisations and their assets at sea to ensure the efficient sharing of experiences across their or-
ganisation, so that users can achieve more holistic and structured fleet management processes. At the same time, BASSnet™ systems have been conceived and developed as a business tool to enable long term strategic planning. According to Haakon Dalan, General Manager, Product Management for BASS, managing safety audits and inspections for a company with 30 ships can be a real challenge. “Each ship can be subject to six audits or inspections a year, with an average of 5-6 observations or remarks per audit,” he says. “With as many as 1,000 observations to follow up annually, these companies face a huge administrative task to secure timely close-out and reporting to relevant authorities. The consequences of just one administrative error can be quite costly in terms of unnecessary loss of trading opportunities, detention or increased port state scrutiny.” Once considered a useful administration tool, maritime IT solutions have emerged as an increasingly vital part of the business strategy of both shipowners and offshore companies. As a software pioneer, offering the industry’s most comprehensive suite of products, BASSnet™ 2.5 represents an important milestone in linking strategy, operations and IT.
Cost-effective solutions to quality crew-training In response to customer demand BASS has created a solution for interactive IT training that can be used both on board and over the web.
new in BASSnet™ 2.5: BASSnet™ Risk Manager addresses the need to establish a practical risk assessment system and manage the process of identifying operational hazards, assessing the risks and responding with appropriate, pro-active control measures. BASSnet™ Risk Manager can substantially reduce operational hazards, increase asset efficiency, and reduce undesired events and consequential losses.
Perhaps more than any other industry, shipping is truly global. In addition to having offices in different regions, companies operate vessels throughout the world, requiring complex rotations of crew members from different nationalities, joining different vessels at different ports and different times, creating significant logistical challenges. For shipowners and offshore companies seeking to train seafarers onboard or before they join the vessel, interactive crew training is a more cost-effective solution to land-based crew training programmes.
BASSnet™ Self Assessment enables companies to assess and plan development of their management standards and practices – and measure progress – in accordance with self assessment guides like the 12 elements of TMSA (Tanker Management Self Assessment by OCIMF). BASSnet™ SAFIR is a “Best Practice” software solution for users to report undesired events such as accidents, loss, near-accidents and non-conformities as well as results from audits and inspections. This can be used in methodical follow up, organizational learning and experience exchange across fleets and shore based organizations – and thereby improve operational- and safety performance.
In response to customer demand, BASS has developed programmes that provide seafarers and office personnel with the tools to strengthen competencies, wherever they are. “Traditional, land-based training courses have become increasingly expensive, and since many shipowners operate globally, it is difficult to ensure uniform skills training across the fleet,” says Haakon Dalan, General Manager for BASS. “To get the most out of BASSnet™ Fleet Management Systems, crew training is essential. Developing well-trained onboard personnel ensures accurate data input, and utilisation of the systems business-critical functions.”
BASSnet™ Report Generator allows users with no prior knowledge of database software or SQL to create and design their own reports in BASSnet™.
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BASS’s comprehensive interactive training platform is an easy to use tool, providing step-by-step instructions in a structured series of tutorials, which include interactive content to help users learn and master the various BASSnet modules. In addition to being built into BASSnet 2.5 for seafarers to build their IT skills while at sea, the Interactive training solution and can also be accessed via www. bassnet.no for crew members seeking to build competence while on leave. The interactive training system offer two important benefits to the customer: The obvious one is that each new user can save time in learning the system. The other is that training ensures that the system is used to its full potential, streamlining the business processes for which each BASSnet module is designed. “BASS’ e-Learning systems provide ship operators a highly effective, affordable alternative to time-intensive shore-based training courses, and help shipowners attract and develop qualified seafarers,” says Dalan. “BASS tutorials provide a set of learning values to develop IT competence, and offers modules devoted to fleet maintenance, spare parts monitoring, undesired events, document tracking, and e-procurement activity, among others, all to achieve improved onboard processes,” he says.
How to register
Anyone with an email address belonging to one of our BASSnet™ customers can get access to our web based training modules at www.bassnet.no. The registration is a two-step process to ensure that nobody register under a false email address: First you follow the instructions for ”New user” after clicking ”Sign in” in the top menu. A password will be sent to your mail address. Use this to sign in.
After sign-in go to “For customers” on the left menu and then “Interactive training”. You now have access to the interactive training modules, provided that you registered with an email address belonging to one of our pre-registered BASSnet customers. To go directly to this page you can bookmark the address www.bassnet.no/training For assistance, please contact support@bassnet.no
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“A proactive approach to safety goes far beyond the next audit. Compliance with regulations is a natural first step towards the real goal – an overall improvement in operational performance. ”
A practical Loss Causation Model for shipping: A common model for uniform reporting and consistent analysis secures correct preventive actions. Event reporting in BASSnet™ is built on such a model.
From cost to profit: A fresh look at safety management Shipowners and ship operators can significantly improve both safety performance and financial results if they utilise effective IT systems for the reporting and management of safety information. Despite a growing body of evidence showing the relationship between improved safety performance and positive financial results, many shipowners continue to embrace old ways of thinking about safety and risk management. But the industry has increasingly recognised that the costs associated with accidents far exceed costs related to prevention and that a structured safety management strategy can yield substantial returns.
Empowering the safety manager
Safety managers need tools to improve the processing and analysis of vital safety information. Rather than to be solely administrators, they need to disseminate their findings to the right people so actions can be taken to improve operations, across the fleet and the organisation. By strengthening management reporting, shipowners and ship operators will find it easier to identify which improvements will be prioritized in the company’s action plan for the next 6-12 months. Without any such system, it is likely that safety management systems will have less effect on the actual operations and may encourage safety issues to be handled haphazardly.
Learning from accidents
Bottom line results are affected by the costs of undesired events. When accidents occur, the company pays a price (“the costs of the accident”). But such undesired events generate information about the event, and its causes – information that can be used to prevent similar accidents in the future. There are two ways for organisations to learn from accidents. One is the methodical investigation and careful review of each incident to diagnose what immediate and fundamental causes allowed the incident to occur. Another way is to gather data from all accidents and identify trends which can then be analysed and corrected. The key to avoiding undesired events lies in the removal of substandard practices and conditions that lead to incidents. A proactive approach to safety goes far beyond the next audit. Compliance with regulations is a natural first step towards the real goal – an overall improvement in operational performance.
systems are required on board and ashore, systems which enable synchronised data so that shipowners can have access to timely information and the tools to plan and implement improvements, throughout the entire fleet. This will render improvement in safety and operational performance, facilitate knowledge sharing across the organisation, and in time, create a safer, more profitable industry.
Download white paper
This article is an extract from a keynote speech held by Haakon Dalan in Taipei at the International Conference on Maritime Technology 2007. To download this paper in PDF format, please go directly to: www.bassnet.no/safety To get access to more presentations and white papers, please sign in to our web site and go to “For customers” and “downloads”. The “Sign in” link is in the top menu. If you do not have login credentials for our web site, please register by following the instructions for “New user” in the yellow call out box (see below).
IT systems as profit drivers
See us at stand 287-B6
Hans Christian Heiervang
BASS at SEA JAPAN
Upcoming Events
Regional focus: Europe
BASS raises profile in Asia
While the European market for maritime software is relatively mature, BASS’ is confident that it will continue to gain market share and stay in front by providing advanced, future-proof IT solutions to streamline fleet management.
BASS’ growing market share in Asia has been supported by the company’s participation in the region’s leading maritime events.
SMM Hamburg Messe 2008 “The world’s leading maritime industry trade fair.” Date: September 23- 26, 2008 Venue: International Trade Fair, Hamburg, Germany Visit BASS at Stand 287 (Hall B6) BASS Customer Forum, November 2008 – Asia “An annual event comprising a series of interactive workshops coupled with opportunities for networking among our large user community”. Date : November 20-21, 2008 Venue: Bangkok, Thailand Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2008 Date: 14 – 16 December, 2008 Venue: Dubai International Exhibition Centre, UAE Visit us at Stand 911. Our representatives and regional manager will be there to show you the latest range of integrated ship-based solutions. Sea Asia 2009 “The Asian Voice in Shipping” Date: April 21- 23, 2009 Venue: Suntec, Singapore Visit BASS at Stand R07 Nor-Shipping 2009 “The Leading Maritime Event Week,” Date: June 9-12, 2009 Venue: Norway Trade Fairs, Oslo
The industry faces significant safety improvement challenges, and these challenges demand a much more systematic and holistic approach than before. At present, it is difficult to imagine how these demands can be met without more investment into IT solutions. Robust software
Please visit www.bassnet.no for the latest details. June 2008 3
From cost to profit:
SAFETY
As more European-based shipowners and offshore companies embrace IT solutions, maritime software has increasingly become a business-critical tool in long-term strategic planning. Heiervang, who joined BASS last year, says that the market potential for BASS in Europe solutions remains strong. “Many shipowners in Europe adopted IT systems early and now they have a need to consolidate their tools into one, robust solution. As an industry pioneer with proven applications already converted to the Microsoft .NET platform, we are in a unique position to meet their demands,” he says. “Implementing our system may start where the benefits are most obvious and continue as needed. The modules will be configured to fit their processes.” Heiervang explains that upgrading fleet management systems is an important step in improving business performance. “Many leading companies now view their fleet management systems as not just as tool to ease administrative burdens, but as a vital part of their long-term strategy,” he says.
In the first half of the year, BASS exhibited in two major events, Asia Pacific Maritime 2008 (Singapore) and SEA JAPAN 2008, allowing customers, partners and potential users to learn more about the latest BASSnet™ solutions. With the launch of BASSnet™ 2.5 and a number of new functionalities, BASS continues to generate interest among the region’s leading shipping companies, including BASS customers NYK, K-Line and Taiyo Nippon Kisen. The martime events allow BASS to continue to build strong relationships with existing customers, and expand its network in the dynamic Asian shipping markets. June 2008 6
Structured innovation
BASSnet 2.5 ReleaseD
INTERACTIVE Training
Professionals from leading shipping and offshore companies from all over the world provide valuable feedback at BASS customer forums in Europe and Asia.
Loaded with new products, functionalities and user-friendly tools, BASSnet™ 2.5 is the most advanced, comprehensive and easyto-use fleet management system available.
BASS provides seafarers and office personnel with new training modules on the web and inside BASSnet™ to strengthen competencies, wherever they are.