_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Main Interview
Preparing fleets for the future
Looking to the future , Damien believes that fuel consumption and emissions reduction will remain the main areas and have the biggest potential for optimization . “ Potentially ,” he shares , “ data could help optimize performance of almost all aspects related to operations . Product management is an important consideration , and particularly so in terms of the risk associated with cost if it is not properly managed . It ’ s not only about managing quantities and deliveries , but also about using data to minimize risk . This extends to the 500-meter safety zone around any offshore oil and gas installation , which represents a high risk in terms of safety . These are areas where we can assist , depending on objectives . The offshore support vessel ( OSV ) market today is tight . There are less vessels available than there used to be a few years ago , so costs are getting higher . Like other sectors of the shipping industry , OSVs will soon have to comply with regulations that demand official reporting . Filing improper or incorrect reports may lead to fines for ship owners . In addition , it creates a greater workload and burden on the crew . So , at some point , there will inevitably be a greater need for digitalization to streamline safe and reliable reporting . For crew members , what we have seen very concretely is that digitalization helps lighten the workload and make life easier . Seafarers must handle vessels in a safe and efficient way and reporting should not become a task , so , it ’ s important for that task to be delegated to a dedicated person to relieve the burden of those operating the vessels .”
In terms of the future , Damien believes that while new technologies will always be trialed , and some will bring benefits while others will ultimately fail , what will make a difference in the coming years more than technology is mindset , and especially mindset towards digitalization . “ We trust in working under a common ecosystem ,” he shares , “ alongside other data providers and specialized companies in our approach to digitalization and processes . We all have different areas of expertise ; we offer our own specialism in terms of analysis and data management . Combining forces to work in an ecosystem will bring significant added value to our common customers and identify areas of opportunity to ultimately deliver better services and improve performance .
“ As I said earlier , we deliver efficiency as a service and are highly pragmatic . We ’ re not shy about showing the return on investment to our customers . There are so many options available today to optimize operations ; some are very costly , whereas others take time . Many programs of improvement involve considerable capital expenditure , whereas what we provide is already available and has proven to deliver immediate , tangible results with associated return on investment . We would always urge people to talk to the experts , to talk to people like us at Opsealog . We can help companies to really analyze their strategy and to not underestimate the low hanging fruit ,” he explains .
“ There is often value in low hanging fruit and they ’ re easy to pick . Working with a specialized company like ours can deliver immediate results with very limited investment . Further afield , marine offshore companies will have to prepare for the future , and regulations will likely necessitate digital reporting , so it ’ s better to anticipate and address future challenges . I have faith in the sector and its ability to adapt ,” Damien concludes . “ As the market becomes more competitive , it ’ s vital for maritime actors to master their operations to better meet global demands . Technology and human expertise can bring answers that drive decision-making and prepare fleets for the future .” ■
www . opsealog . com
tlimagazine . com 11