Wärtsilä’s Operim promises smarter performance, greater profitability

Wärtsilä Operim utilizes data collection and cloud-based analytics to enhance operational performance

Wärtsilä is launching a new, digital version of its Operim (Operational Performance Improvement & Monitoring) offering at this year’s Nor-Shipping event in Oslo, Norway.

By digitally augmenting physical products through the addition of data collection capabilities and cloud based analytics, Operim enables improvements in operational performance through continuous monitoring and reporting of key performance indicators and virtual instrumentation.

The collected data are delivered to the system’s user in real-time, allowing appropriate and timely manual or autonomous decision-making in a predictive or adaptive manner.

As a vessel is only as efficient, and profitable, as the way it is operated, optimizing operational efficiency using up to date, real-time data, is critical to remaining competitive.

According to Wärtsilä, monitoring and analysis of the data produced delivers “the perfect integration of human experience and modern technology.”

Operim enables accurate adjustments to be made to the plant or assets being monitored, according to sea and weather conditions and other external factors. Such operating decisions are otherwise likely to be made based on assumptions, which could compromise performance and revenues.

APPS SPECIFIC TO ASSETS

Since the insights enabled by Operim are specific to the asset in question, the various Operim applications are created in close cooperation with product experts. For example, the application specific to an LPG gas cargo handling system considers parameters such as the reliquefication time and GPS locations. These can be correlated with sea water temperatures to assess the handling system’s efficiency. This insight can also be compared with other vessels in a fleet, allowing best practices to be shared.

For other assets, such as ballast water systems, tracking and reporting of treatment operations is fully digitalized and handled by Operim.

“Wärtsilä is dedicated to enhancing the lifecycle performance of its products and systems with fully integrated smart solutions,” says Nicholas Martin, Director, Digital Offering, Processing Solutions, Wärtsilä Marine. “We see this as a vital step in creating the high levels of efficiency needed for our customers to remain competitive in an industry that is undergoing rapid change.”

With access to Wärtsilä’s analytic tools and insights developed by the product designers, owners and operators can take operational performance to higher levels. The benefits include not only lower operating costs (OPEX), but also the empowerment of a more competent and efficient crew.

Operim is currently available for Wärtsilä’s gas portfolio, including LNG and LPG Carriers, and will soon be rolled out for Biogas and to water and waste treatment solutions. The long-term vision is for all Wärtsilä assets to be delivered digitally augmented and integrated with Operim.