FPSO and marine integrity management and repair specialists Marine Technical Limits (MTL), has officially launched its PYXIS Lightship technology helping ship owners and FPSO/fixed asset operators better manage the lightship weight of their vessels.
The company, which has a base in Aberdeenshire, has a team of specialists who have been working tirelessly to deliver the latest in the PYXIS technology suite. The application (app) enables organisations to manage the lightweight of vessels in a structured and controlled manner.
The lightship weight of a vessel is the fixed, non-removable items adding to the weight of the asset. This can include steel, machinery and outfitting. With many FPSOs having been in operation for significant periods of time the additional lightship weight can be substantial, meaning it’s imperative to manage the lightship weight suitably to ensure vessel stability, safety and compliance with relevant regulations.
Ian Stewart, lead naval architect at MTL said: “At MTL we identified a requirement within the industry for an application which helps organisations manage lightship weight in a smarter digital way.
“Currently throughout the industry the deadweight of a vessel (variable weights - oil, fuel, cargo, people) is managed closely on a continuous basis with onboard stability software. However, the lightship weight is regularly managed and maintained offline in a basic log, such as a spreadsheet or similar document.”
“Often the spreadsheets used to capture the data for the lightship weight on an FPSOs are dated, have poor version control and are susceptible to human error. This can mean coordinates and weight specific information is misinterpreted or inaccurate leading to increased risk.”
“Loss of control of lightship weight data will lead to non-compliance with the regulations and is likely to result in significant operational delays while it is rectified through a deadweight survey or inclining experiment.”
“PYXIS Lightship manages, catalogues, maintains and records all appropriate information digitally within the app, ensuring quality lightship information is readily available at all times, offering significant time savings as well as reducing risk.”
Not only is PYXIS Lightship efficient, but it is also fully compliant with regulatory requirements and industry standards such as MODU code, and guidance documents such as DNVGL-OTG-12:2015-07. It is securely hosted on the cloud, is fully auditable, and significantly reduces the risk of non-compliance of regulatory requirements and consequential incline test.
MTL is a specialist FPSO integrity and repair management company, providing structural integrity management, on-station FPSO repair, naval architectural and equipment solutions. MTL’s unique approach to delivering safety, value and quality is founded upon a deep understanding of the specific needs of FPSO operators and the motivation to find the best solution for their clients.
For further information about the PYXIS Lightship please contact MTL on info@technical-limits.com or visit the website on www.technical-limits.com