Digital hull maintenance optimises operations

DNV GL will supply its ShipManager Hull software for implementation on five vessels in the Saipem fleet. With ShipManager Hull, owners can use 3D digital twins for full lifecycle management of the hull structure. All data is centralised and easily accessible for steel and coating calculations and predictive analytics, enabling significant cost savings, especially in dry-dock.

“With this powerful tool we will be fully in control of the condition of the hull of our construction vessels,” said Giampaolo Bonalumi, asset digital transformation leader at Saipem.

Saipem 7000

The software will first be introduced on Saipem 7000, one of the world’s largest crane vessels with a lifting capability of 14,000t at 42m. Crane vessels are exposed to high stresses during lifting, demanding particular attention to structural integrity.

The frequent ballasting of the vessel increases the need for efficient monitoring of ballast tank corrosion. Saipemwill be able to use a digital twin of the entire structure for optimal planning of periodic inspections and dry-dock repairs.

ShipManager Hull will also be used for the crane vessel FDS2 (2011) and pipelaying vessels FDS (2000), Constellation (2014) and Castorone (2012).

The implementation of ShipManager was chosen by Saipem as one of the first initiatives to demonstrate efficiency gains through digitalisation and improved data management.

By Rebecca Jeffrey