MOL’s New App Boosts Efficiency With Real-Time Processing Of Ship Operational Data

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that, along with MOL Group company MOL Information Systems, Ltd. (MOLIS), it has developed and introduced the Online ABLOG (Note 1) web application (Note 2), which processes and utilizes abstract log (ablog) data, improving operational efficiency both onboard and on shore.

Conventionally, crewmembers have recorded ablog data using dedicated onboard software, and emailed it to those involved, but this required time to download the data on the shore side, making it difficult to analyze data immediately. In addition, not all systems on board and on shore can be linked, requiring duplicate input of the same data.

Representation Image – Credits: wikimedia.org

To solve that issue, MOL and MOLIS built an application that can be used from a web browser via satellite without dedicated software. At the early stages of development, it took time to connect to the server from the vessel due to the limitations of satellite communications onboard, and the discrepancy in speed compared to shoreside systems made the app impractical to use. However, in cooperation with Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) (Note 3), the development team successfully achieved superior performance of the app, improving operational efficiency and connectivity with other systems.

Specific improvements in efficiency include the following:

• Eliminating the need for email transmission of ship operational data, system management, and upgrades of dedicated software (about 880 hours/year/vessel)
• Reducing data input workload by linkage with other systems both onboard and on shore (about 270 hours/year/vessel)
• Simpler analysis of ship operational status and enhanced monitoring functions from the shore side, by making ship operational data available in real-time
• Improving searchability by a database of bunker fuel reports (Note 4)
• Simplifying changes in system configuration

MOL has already installed the web app on 197 vessels and will continue to install it on more vessels in succession.

MOL strives to efficiently collect ship operation data and offer stress-free transport services through the effective use of the app, with the aim at safe and low environmental impact operations.

(Note 1)
ABLOG stands for Abstract Log. The ABLOG report records vessel movements such as names of calling ports, date and time of calling in and out, navigation time, vessel position, speed, bunker fuel, lubricant, berthing time, and engine operation data. The data is utilized for ship operation management and analysis of fuels.

(Note 2)
The “Online ABLOG” is a software application that runs on a network web server and operated on the web browser.

(Note 3)
It uses the global network service Azure Front Door from Microsoft Corporation (Headquarters: Washington state, U.S.A.), which was pre-offered in 2018. Onboard internet services cannot identify the nation or region an internet connection originates from while the vessel is underway; however, the use of Azure Front Door makes it possible to access a web app from the nearest Azure access point, anywhere in the world.

(Note 4)
The bunker fuel report is a valuation report after the use of bunkered oil.

Reference: mol.co.jp

Source: Maritime Shipping News