HHI to bring connectivity to ships and logistics

HHI joined forces with Accenture to help them create OceanLinkTM, for the shipbuilding, shipping, and onshore-logistics sectors. With a network of sensors built into new vessels on top of Accenture Connected Platforms as a Service (CPaaS), shipowners will be able to capture a range of ship operation information including weather, location, and onboard equipment and cargo status data, the Company said in a press release.

By applying analytic and visualization tools, the owners will be able to monitor a ship’s status and condition in real-time to realize more efficient operations. HHI builds smart ships with sensors while Accenture’s deep industry expertise helps HHI to establish the business models and the cloud network for the digital transfer of data to take place.

The general idea of the increasingly familiar term IoT (Internet of Things) refers to the wireless network of physical things — objects, devices, buildings — consisting of installed sensors, electronics, software, and network connectivity enabling these ‘things’ to collect and exchange data. The industry trend started from consumer products such as home appliances and automatic light bulbs, and now the business-to-business world is also moving aggressively on the booming trend these days, the Company said Thursday.

Imagine a scene of onshore ship-owners and logistics operators sitting at their desks and monitoring ships thousands of miles away sailing through the Pacific Ocean. Wouldn’t that be great? Furthermore, what if ship captains and on-land port authorities could utilize information collected by the IoT to identify the least-busy time for the ship to unload cargoes? Beyond that, there are numerous other benefits that can be realized in the era of IoT.
 
OceanLinkTM was modeled after HHI’s Smart Ship System that was first introduced in 2011. While the original Smart Ship utilized operation data to improve the eco-friendliness, safety, and operation efficiency of vessels, OceanLinkTM took a step further by providing ship owners with a variety of data that ship owners find it informative including vessels’ status, port/land logistics with the help of Ship Data Platform and Vessel Data Model. OceanLinkTM also creates an environment where the big data can be continuously extracted and analyzed in order to provide insight that can then be utilized so that additional programs can be made to the owners’ advantage. Utilizing HHI’s On-Ship Platform and Accenture CPaaS On-Shore, the two companies jointly developed operation optimization services by linking information among shipowners, shipping liners, and port operators using big data.

For on-ship services, HHI provides HiCASS (Hyundai Intelligent Collision Avoidance Support System) and HiEMS (HiMSEN Engine Monitoring System). HiCASS collects information from navigation equipment like radar, automatic identification system and electronic navigational charts to recommend optimal sea routes, and identify collision risk levels. HiEMS collects and records real-time engine status data and transmits the raw engine data to the onshore center for remote engine status analysis. HHI’s Ship Data Integration Platform, based on HHI’s standardized Vessel Data Model, utilizes the IEC61850 Reference Model to standardize and transfer data collected from HiCASS and HiEMS to shore using sensors on ships.
 
The onshore services provided by Accenture include real-time monitoring to manage vessel voyage information, the berthing schedule, and the status of main machinery components. The information-sharing capabilities allow liners and terminal ports to minimize port traffic by more accurately predicting vessel arrival times. Moreover, the service enables liners and port operators to simultaneously monitor and record the vessel’s fuel consumption by fuel type. This enables OceanLinkTM users to more easily comply with a new mandatory maritime regulation approved in April 2016 by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Under the regulation expected to take effect in 2018, ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above will be required to collect consumption data for each type of fuel they use. The aggregate fuel consumption data will be reported to the flag state at the beginning of each calendar year and the flag state, having determined that the data has been reported in accordance with the requirements, will issue a statement of compliance to the ship. Flag states will be required to subsequently transfer this data to the IMO Ship Fuel Consumption Database.
 
OceanLinkTM is available to all commercial vessels that are operated by shipping liners, whether the ships are built by HHI or not. With the full integration of IoT technologies, OceanLinkTM enables economic, efficient, safe maritime operation based on shore and on-board platforms. The connected ecosystem features provide potential for expansion and customization, which can bring additional vertical services and operation both on ship and shore for our customers.
 
OceanLinkTM utilizes data captured by thousands of sensors installed on the connected smart ships to break down communication barriers and provide timely feedback, such as alerts and warnings, predictive maintenance and more efficient scheduling. The advanced sensors utilize satellite technology to transmit valuable data between ships. This gives operators the foresight to make swift, data-driven decisions for day to day operations. All of this was made possible through the perfect synergy of data and analytics. HHI’s class-leading expertise in shipbuilding and vast cache of data, coupled with Accenture’s cutting-edge technology and proprietary analytics capabilities has brought an unrivaled level of cost optimization and enabled maximized operational efficiency.