Remote monitoring for Jack-Up Barge
Imtech Marine presented a live and operational remote control room at the Europort exhibition in Rotterdam last month.
The company was recently awarded a second Advanced Support Agreement from Jack-Up Barge for 24/7 remote monitoring and maintenance of the systems installed by Imtech Marine on board the newbuild, self-elevating platform JB-118. This follows an earlier and similar contract for the JB-117, where Imtech Marine completed equipment installation in 2012 and subsequently started remote monitoring. The JB-118 was built near Hong Kong in Shenzhen.
The remote support is extensive and comprises the VSAT network, the ICT network, PABX central telephone system and the total navigation, communication and entertainment package, including IPTV and satellite television. Additionally, VHF/UHF communications for the crane operators, a meteo and CCTV system, as well as a communications system for the helideck.
Because the barges are often working offshore for many weeks at a time it is vital that any problems can be sorted out remotely. This agreement also includes ICT system management. For instance, when there are crew changes and a new crew is boarding, all necessary ICT actions are set up and prepared, such as email accounts, file server changes, login passwords, etc. Imtech Marine makes these changes remotely for Jack-Up Barge.
Frank Berends, global manager remote services said : “Our aim is to eliminate all surprises with remote support, and thus reducing maintenance costs by remote monitoring. Imtech’s GTAC Global Technical Assistance Centre (GTAC) provides all the resources for that, including three 24/7 remote control rooms in Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore. Jack-Up Barge has given us the freedom and the trust to get the job done. Since we started to provide remote monitoring and maintenance for the JB-117 one and a half year ago, maintenance attendances to the barge have been reduced substantially.”
Hugo Cramer, technical manager at Jack-Up Barge added: “The JB-117 is working on a three-year contract on a wind farm in the North Sea. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, diagnostics and maintenance included, we are able to improve reliability of vital installations and reduce the maintenance costs by avoiding unplanned service calls. Monitoring the condition of the system remotely ensures us of continuity of operation.”
Sliedrecht, the Netherlands based Jack-Up Barge supplies self elevating platforms for both the energy and heavy civil construction markets. JB-117 is in operation on building a windmill farm in the Nordsea above the German Bight. The first job for the JB-118 is to function as an accommodation platform in the North Sea for a period of four months.
