German propulsion company Schottel has introduced new digital products and services, which it says can open up numerous possibilities for optimising ship operations.
MariHub offers data collection, processing and evaluation directly on board the vessel: the system records and analyses signals from sensors, machines and other components. In addition, MariHub functions as a fault monitoring system: the signals are continuously recorded and stored, and warnings and alarms are generated if a limit value is exceeded.
Alexander Neideck, Product Manager Automation and Digital Products, said: “Basically, we are creating a virtual image of the propulsion system on land, thus providing insights into the propulsion system. This information can then be used to plan operational and strategic deployments better.”
MariHub performs a large part of the analyses independently on board and generates messages based on common process and measurement values. These values can be viewed by means of an integrated control panel on the MariHub system or are sent automatically to the IoT platform MariNet via an encrypted connection. If there is no stable internet connection, the cached data can be transferred automatically or manually at a later time.
Stefan Buch, VP After Sales Service said: “For our customers, the focus is on safe, reliable and economical operation during the vessel’s entire service life. We contribute to this with our data analyses which, in turn, provide the needed information and recommendations for taking corresponding action.”
Operators benefit from further applications when using Schottel’s own MariNet platform. ProData, the integrated IoT service, allows the data collected by MariHub to be viewed online from anywhere. It provides information on the operation conditions and equipment status and helps to identify optimization potential. The processed data can be used for planning the strategic deployment and development of the entire fleet, which helps to maximize the potential of the vessels.
ProCMS, a condition monitoring service for Schottel propulsion systems, ensures that downtimes are as short as possible and can be planned. An algorithm monitors the latest measured values regularly and notifies at an early stage if there are any acute signs of wear or damage to specific components. This minimises the risk of consequential damage.
Markus Wilbert, Team Manager Service Technical Support, said: “We analyse the data, constantly adjust limit values and regularly prepare measurement reports. This allows us to make condition-based maintenance recommendations at any time. In this way, we make sure that maintenance is carried out at the right time.”
Besides the permanently installed MariHub monitoring system, the Schottel range includes VibCheck, a mobile system for evaluating the condition of the propulsion system. Schottel service engineers carry out vibration measurements on the vessel’s installed units using a portable measuring device. This measurement data is transferred manually and analysed by experts. The results enable more targeted maintenance planning and spare parts logistics, especially for older vessels.
