The integrated ship control systems (ISCS) work properly after some
period of "tuning in", and they were quite satisfied with their installations.
It is the "conventional ship equipment" that represents the
problem.
The ISCS are often built too complicated, and here it is much room
for improvement and simplification.
In the years ahead, the development of equipment should emphasize
Simplicity
Robustness and reliability
Easy to maintain
Further much effort should e put on
Standardization
Modularization
We also see that some new composite materials offer very interesting
opportunities.
Other topics that should be given high priority is systems engineering
and redundancy.
Increasing redundancy offers less off-hire and simpler maintenance.
Top qualifications onboard - leads to onboard maintenance and repair
of components.
Less qualifications onboard means that we will have to change parts
or modules to a greater extent.
Onboard training will be a key area. This will be a new obligation for
each company according to the revised STCW-convention, but this topic should as well be
addressed by the equipment suppliers. They should supply their handbooks and manuals,
preferably on electronic form, so that they also could be used for training purposes.
We are convinced that the ISCS also should have an "simulation
mode". Our request is that these installation should have simulation functions so
that this could be used for training both in ordinary ship operation and in emergency
handling.
6. Conclusion
The unmanned ship, monitored and controlled from ashore is
technological possibility to day - and as far as we know - it is a reality on a test
basis. This is primarily a question of acceptance by the authorities and not least - a
question of profitability for the owners.
