Classification society Bureau Veritas has just opened its first remote survey centre, located in the major maritime hub and port city of Rotterdam.
During the development process different operating modes were tested successfully in different modes of connectedness: offline, partly on-line, and fully online. These different modes reflect the need for different levels of connectedness. In the latter mode – the fastest and most comprehensive remote survey mode – the onboard client uses connected devices to show the ship’s condition in real time to a remote surveyor and this means a survey in real time can be closed at the end of a call.
Benefits to clients include: speed of response and no travel or waiting time; optimisation in the decision making process thanks to live-streaming solutions; continuous improvement in the quality of service; and cost control through overall reductions in travel time and arrangements.
Laurent Leblanc of Bureau Veritas said: "This remote capability is really just starting to make an impact on our clients. It is a vital development for the future of classification."
By Jake Frith
