Slide 1

Mobile Technology in Ships Inspections

Thomas Mestl, DNV Research

Managing RiskeScandinavia, 2001

Slide 2

Maritime business: a cornerstone in DNV

• 5.000 ships classified by DNV (about 15% of World's fleet)

• 1.200 ship inspectors

• doing ca. 25.000 ships inspection annually

• required time per inspection: hours 1-2 days

Maritime Industries 38%

General Industries 37%Oil, Gas & Processes 22%

Other 3%

Slide 3

Product model technology: a database containing all info about a ship from new-building, operation to scraping:

NAUTICUS, central information repository

– technical drawings

– 3-D models

– info about material, equipment & inventory,

– required certificates, etc.

– inspection findings and reports

– repairs

Slide 4

Typical inspection work process

Preparation in officeNauticus Checklist, and

relevant info

Inspection on shipData collection

ReportingOffice: entering data into db,

issuing (temporary) certificate(s)

Slide 5

Note book and pencil

Flashlight

Hammer

Nauticus Checklist

Gloves & Hardhat

Surveyor - unchanged through centuries...

Mobile phone

Slide 6

Problem areas

• Info available in office or on paper- copy on Laptop

• Checklists on paper- double work- source of errors

• New inspections are prioritised rather then finishing up old ones

- pile up of unfinished work (customer

satisfaction?) - employees dissatisfied

• Knowledge repository not accessible on site

Slide 7

What does DNV do?

• DNV Research: Project that examines the potential of mobile technology in ships inspection– wearable computer technology

– Pocket PCs

• IT Department: – Product model technology

– Light clients, Microsoft .net

– Database accessible through IE browser

Slide 8

Wearable Computer Technology (WCT)

A compressed ThinkPad 560X from IBM: • 64MB Ram• 340MB disc • Colour 1024x860 pix.• 300 g• Win. 98

Slide 9

WCT adapted to DNV usage

Keyboard

Mouse

Wearable PCfrom IBM

MouseHeadmoundeddisplay

Built-in camera

Microphone

Slide 10

Electronic check lists and on site reporting

Camera interface

Sound recorder

Keyboard interface

Guidance notes

Recorded conditions

Additional comments as:• text file• sound file• picture file

Slide 11

Slide 12

Lessons learned

• Hardware – Hardware should be “hidden” and must be hardened– Head-mounted display is excellent when looking at technical

drawings but one cannot share screen

• Software – must be specially adapted to wearable usage (no mouse)– integrated functionality (simplicity) – extreme requirements to user friendliness (screen size, data entry,

navigation)

• User – cannot ask “What do you want?”, must ask “ what’s wrong?” – resistance to new technology, involve and prepare user– proud, show-off (James Bond)

Experience directly transferable to other technologies: PDA

Slide 13

Business Potential

• Effectiveness:

– no reduction in inspection time!

– utilising spare time (waiting or travel

time)

– collect data in electronic form

• integrates into business processes,

• knowledge management systems,

• electronic integration with customers

– reduce double work, e.g. less errors

Slide 14

Business Potential (cont.)

• Quality of service:– faster delivery– higher quality service (less errors)

– better advisory due to instant access to information

Detention ratio

Slide 15

Business Potential (cont.)

• Image– valued employees, increased

motivation

– profiling DNV as a high tech company on the cutting edge

– PR

http://research.dnv.com/hci