SeaTec Creates Cost Saving
An innovative solution from SeaTec recently resulted in a significant cost saving for a customer.
The customer’s fleet was fitted with a TG-8000 gyro compass, a form of gyroscope widely used on ships to accurately detect the true direction of north. Traditionally, these types of gyros required a high level of maintenance resulting in large costs for ship owners averaging $64,000 over the lifespan of the gyros. Unexpected breakdown attendance and travel costs could increase this figure considerably.
The existing gyro system on the customer’s fleet was replaced with the compassnet2500 dual gyro system which is completely maintenance free. Combined with the standard five-year warranty and maintenance period, the new gyro system provides much better value for the customer. Pavan Bidi, General Manager for SeaTec, explains the solution in detail: “The existing systems were considered more expensive as the sensitive elements needed replacing every two to three years as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. The owners were looking for a suitable replacement gyro system with an economical and cost-effective new compass system, requiring little maintenance and with a long-life cycle and maximum mean time between failure (MBTF).”
An initial period of research was carried out by Ganesan Krishnamurthy, Regional Technical Manager of SeaTec, to determine the best maintenance free system available. “After various calculations, we concluded that compassnet2500 was the best,” continues Pavan. “The system configuration we installed has dual gyro compassnet2500 maintenance free fiber optic gyro compasses with accessories to retrofit them to the present system. With a long service life, high MTBF, compact size and low weight, the through life costs beyond the warranty period will be more cost effective than a standard spinning mass gyro system.”
The new configuration will be retrofitted on two of the customer’s vessels at Nantong shipyard in China this summer.
For more information about maintenance free gyro retrofits contact Pavan Bidi.