Data-driven maintenance offers clear path for improving fleet reliability and efficiency

Joint research conducted by Lloyd’s Register (LR), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), and MTI Co., Ltd. (MTI) has revealed that adopting data-driven condition-based maintenance (DCBM) can significantly enhance vessel efficiency and reliability.

The white paper highlights how DCBM processes, utilizing advanced analytical models, can deliver substantial benefits to the maritime industry. It outlines potential pathways for successful implementation and the challenges that need to be addressed.

The report identifies four key challenges that shipowners must tackle to maximize the benefits of condition-based maintenance: lack of precision in maintenance and inspection checklists, deviations from scheduled maintenance and inspections, vague criteria for identifying hazardous operating conditions,, and the need for effective strategic responses to system failures.

By overcoming these challenges, shipowners and operators can benefit from increased equipment availability, reduced downtime, and lower total maintenance costs. This, in turn, can lead to higher returns on investment, significantly lower operational expenditure (OPEX), reduced crew workload, and improved safety standards.

The report urges industry stakeholders, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), to explore DCBM technologies for various improvements beyond safety enhancement. The research indicates that embracing a data-driven future and prioritizing analytic-driven maintenance can give owners and operators a competitive edge, reduce overheads, and deliver excellence in maritime operations.

Luis Benito, Strategic Business Partner – Japan, Lloyd’s Register, commented: “The maritime industry is undergoing a major shift in operational processes due to the twin drivers of decarbonisation and digitalisation. This disruption is forcing shipping to adopt new ways of working. By implementing data-driven condition-based maintenance, shipowners can prioritize safety and protect their return on investment while reducing OPEX.”

Shogo Yamada, Deputy General Manager of Marine Group, NYK Line, added: “Our in-depth analysis highlights the opportunities and challenges of implementing DCBM in the maritime industry. Adoption of DCBM can enhance maintenance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve safety. It is crucial to focus on technological innovation, methodology, and operational workflows, and to emphasize data sharing and collaboration among stakeholders for advancing digitalization and data-driven approaches in the maritime industry.”

Hideyuki Ando, Director, MTI Co., Ltd. (MTI), stated: “As a leader in maritime innovation, we are excited to collaborate on exploring the opportunities and challenges of DCBM. The comprehensive analysis in the publication underscores DCBM’s potential to transform maintenance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve safety standards. By fostering data sharing and collaboration, we can collectively advance the digitalization and data-driven evolution of maritime operations, creating a more sustainable, efficient, and interconnected maritime ecosystem.”