EnErgy EfficiEncy More comprehensive big data analysis can support that transition. The ships of the future will need to feature onboard data-monitoring centers connected to a central architecture which could be programmed to focus on driving better energy efficiency, or other operational priorities. Fleet operational data stored in cloud computing services, for example, can then be transformed by algorithms and data normalization to meaningful key performance indicators, which in turn drive business strategies. The operational transparency and interconnectivity of these “real-time” systems is increasingly being demanded by regulators, industry and stakeholders. In today’s data-driven world, ABS is meeting industry demand by developing a new generation of operational, safety and environmental systems and interpretive software aiming to transcend its traditional role of certification and also provide performance verification. Much of this development is committed to finding better ways to unveil and interpret the technical information held in big data. Because the technical role of a classification society transcends individual ship owners, shipyards, design houses, vessel types, regulatory regimes, markets and countries, it is uniquely placed to generate the type of predictive analytics that can underpin modern asset life-cycle strategies. Every year, ABS generates millions of data points through asset surveys, engineering evaluations and performance monitoring. Buried in that data is information on the performance of just about every component of the merchant fleet, from propulsion and ballast water systems to hull forms and life-saving equipment. Greater transparency and understanding of the life-cycle performance of those components—and their suppliers—will improve future ship designs, and will also support the formulation of more
effective maintenance schedules, which reduce downtime and increase the productivity of each ship. In supporting the development of predictive analysis tools, a classification society could also find vital ways to make its role in the industry less intrusive; survey schedules could be customized to specific vessel and component characteristics, rather than fixed annual dates. The work could be more targeted on the predictable areas, reducing vessel downtime. Through collaborative data sharing between operators, manufacturers and themselves, classification societies are already supporting routines for condition-based maintenance where equipment and systems receive a notation recognizing alternative survey arrangements. For example, on the carbon emissions front, the use of satellite- Automatic Identification System (AIS) data is already helping industry to better understand the energy efficiency of the global fleet. Today’s ship owners face a wave of new regulations in the next few years. In many ways, these regulatory challenges are driving innovation and putting a renewed emphasis on research and development. By promoting normalized data processes and designing predictive software programs, classification societies, regulatory bodies and government agencies could support the creation of better regulation—and voluntary schemes—that meet the goals of industry and society, while minimizing the cost of implementation. Given our industry’s complex nature, we are only just starting to scratch the surface of how shipping businesses can process, analyze and otherwise make use of all the information they are generating to tackle the sector’s challenges, navigate regulatory landscapes, increase profitability in a volatile economic market and become more sustainable. ■
March 2014 MARINE LOG 25