MARINE CONSULTING
RIGHT NOW IN MARINE CONSULTING
There is a mix between traditional marine consulting and pandemic-induced projects. These projects are things that were previously handled by company employees. Companies are still downsized from the downturn, so with less permanent staff, they seek out third parties. Operations management, engineering analysis, and technical writing are core competencies of Core Group Consulting. We can produce high-quality policy documents quickly and remove that burden from our clients as they refresh policies and ramp up for growth. In the future some companies may add staff and perform this work in house while others decide to stay lean and outsource as a permanent operating model.
THE PUSH IN TRADITIONAL CONSULTING
The big push in traditional marine consulting is developing solutions for preserving fuel while still prioritizing safety in vessels. For dynamic positioning, this means evaluating each level of protection and its subsystems to look for opportunities to integrate. Historically, the electrical system was divided into two or more subsystems that are completely isolated so the failure of one system wouldn’t affect the other. To be more fuel efficient, the industry is examining how to combine power systems or add batteries while still maintaining the same level of safety as before.
Operational changes must also be considered. Systems with different operating modes based on the situation leads to added complexity in the operating procedures. Crews will need very specific training to ensure they are equipped to swap between operating modes. If a vessel cannot operate with the redundancy groups connected, fuel savings can be achieved with a multiple operating mode strategy. These must be specific to the vessel and the operations being conducted.
COMPANIES CAN GET AHEAD
In addition to fuel-saving measures, companies also need to be looking at cyber security measures. Computers are imbedded into more ship systems every day. Thinking of the vessel as isolated from the world when it is away from shore was the mindset for years. This is not as effective because the ships are connected to the internet to beam data to shore, monitor fuel consumption, remote diagnostics for the machinery, and more. Cyber security concerns include everything from getting viruses on the vessels computers to someone hacking in to monitor vessel location and operations. Especially for larger companies, investing in security means that you are guarded against the threats that are already looking for weak spots.
Core Group Consulting is here to to be a trusted partner for dynamic positioning issues, cybersecurity needs, and maritime projects that require high levels of expertise.