How do you plan for marine vessel maintenance?

One way to assess condition of equipment / system will be by Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) whenever possible, especially with cooperation with OEM recommendation. With monitoring sensors and data collection software will provide good insight towards operating condition over a known period of time for assessing need to perform major overhaul maintenance. This delay the need to perform periodic major overhaul scope in a reliable and safe manner.

Tasks demand comes from - Ship design optimisation and comprising for future costing - Ship building standards and aspects - Machinery makers maintenance schedules - Statuary maintenance requirements. - Management & on board work force practices Planning & optimisation of time / manpower

To start the planning process, I will advise conducting a thorough assessment of the vessel's current condition. This initial evaluation should encompass structural integrity, mechanical components, electronic systems, and onboard equipment. By identifying potential issues early on, maintenance tasks can be prioritized and scheduled accordingly.

All owners sweeping the manufactures recommended service space and service man hours under the carpet, go for minimum manning and compacting machinery spaces to pull out maximum cargo space all in the name of over estimating profits and not taking the long term maintenance costs into the equation

Vessels maintenance is according PMS ( planned maintenance system) which is approved by a class society. Each type of vessel has different needs and the time of repairs, maintenance, drydocks, overhauling differs. The maintenance plan should appear in the company's SMS (safety management system), in accordance to the International Safety Management code, ISM.

in a perfect world all will be good but we living under a economic rat race era, where the competition is that the most profitable way wins nevertheless the long term costs, so add in to the PMS the limitations from short port stays multiple shiftings, docking work lists cuts due to economics, manning cuts (minimum manning have been standardized, that from beginning was only to take the ship safely to next port) and low cost crew with limited capacity to maintain the ship properly. also ship construction is affected where the cargo capacity outweighs the access to maintenance etc etc all above affects the quality of the ships maintenance and the long term cost due to the lack of it.

In the realm of maritime maintenance, strict adherence to equipment manuals is crucial. Using specified tools and genuine parts ensures precise execution, promoting safety and reliability. Routine upkeep acts as a proactive defense, preventing unforeseen issues. Vigilance in verifying the accuracy of each maintenance task is key. In urgent situations, a judicious risk assessment adds an extra layer of safeguarding. These principles form a robust maintenance framework, upholding operational excellence and minimizing disruptions at sea.

Management has the final decision based on commercial pressure vs ship maintenance costs. It is a cross point of these two curves. Prevention is better than cure - PMS.

A computerised planned maintenance system integrated with inventory and safety Management is the basis to start. Proper training from OEMs and a motivated technical team who understand the benefits of operational availability of a vessel and it's impact on the success of the business Marad FMS is a proven suite of ready to use tools in this regard .

OEM service schedules should be considered in the first instance, as they may guide understanding of subsequent Condition Based Monitoring. Schedules of Planned Maintenance routines should be entered in the a Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), for use by ship's crew and shore maintenance planners.