Radio Holland in remote monitoring agreement with CNCo
Under the agreement, Radio Holland will install VDR Remote Interface on board three CNCo vessels (Coral Chief, Highland Chief and New Guinea Chief). The decision follows a successful pilot scheme on CNCo’s multipurpose vessel, the Papuan Chief.
Radio Holland’s Global Manager Remote Services, Frank Berends says that the remote monitoring agreement means that “we can, for example, monitor if the radar and ECDIS are working properly, examine data sent to the VDR and check all the GMDSS equipment on board. Most problems can be solved remotely, otherwise we prepare to send engineers to the next port, with the correct parts.”
The agreement cuts on board maintenance and the time it takes to do surveys considerably.
“An annual on board survey usually averages 6-8 hours,” says David Watts, Radio Holland Regional Director Asia. “But by Radio Holland engineers testing equipment remotely and verifying data, this can fall to just 2-4 hours. With a 50% reduction of maintenance hours on a large fleet of ships over their lifetime, this represents a significant savings for the shipowner.”
Radio Holland has worked closely with CNCo for several years and was already the preferred supplier for the navigation/communications package for CNCo’s newbuild program, which involves 37 multipurpose ships and bulk carriers. The company has already installed the integrated bridge system on 30 of these vessels and the remaining seven will have the new bridge fitted in 2016.
Radio Holland is part of the newly formed company RH Marine Group, formerly known as Imtech Marine, established in November following Imtech Marine’s acquisition by Parcom Capital and Pon Holdings.