Marine Condition Monitoring

Condition monitoring is the process of proactively monitoring specific machinery onboard a vessel for the purpose of identifying changes and resolving any issues before they escalate. Condition monitoring predicts the health and safety of specific infrastructure through a combination of machine sensor data that measures vibrations, temperature and other parameters in real-time with software.

A V.Group, we offer a range of cradle-to-grave environmental solutions, aimed at optimising a vessel’s performance while operating sustainably and minimising impact on the environment. A key focus is energy management - the proactive, organised and systematic coordination of the use of energy, in line with environmental and economic objectives. In order to meet the maritime industry’s environmental criteria, our aim is to match each and every area of a vessel’s performance when at sea, from consuming fuel to emitting Co2. Through effective energy management, we can utilise the data to evaluate performance across a range of assets.

Condition monitoring is an efficient process which involves minimal intrusion and disruption. As condition monitoring is essentially proactive maintenance, potentially major problems with a machine or engine can be predicted and resolved early, which is more cost-effective and efficient in the long term.

Condition monitoring is also rooted in data analytics, meaning the people responsible for the engine or machine can make informed, data-driven decisions when it comes to management and maintenance.

Fuel oil analysis is a preventative maintenance tool in which the quality and overall conditions of fuel are monitored, evaluated and subsequently managed. This specific kind of maintenance is utilised across a variety of different industries and sectors, but it’s of particular importance in the maritime sector where oil analysis can prevent minor issues onboard a vessel from escalating and causing a breakdown.

Total sediment potential, known more commonly as TSP, is the assessment of the stability of fuel. It involves ageing a sample of residual fuel at a high temperature for 24 hours and indicates whether or not the fuel is stable enough for use.

Fuel oil analysis is a crucial component of any vessel’s operations. Issues such as particle debris and/or water contamination can jeopardise the efficiency of an engine and increase the risk of unexpected downtime. As a result, oil analysis usually takes between 2 – 3 days for testing, or 48 – 72 hours, to complete.

A scrubber is a highly effective air pollution control device that can be used to remove gases and/or particulates from exhaust streams. Scrubbers are very useful onboard a vessel, removing about 98% of sulphur from flue gases.