(ROTTERDAM, Netherlands) — Radio Holland, part of the newly formed company RH Marine Group, has been awarded a remote monitoring agreement from the China Navigation Co. (CNCo).
Under the new agreement, Radio Holland will install VDR remote interfaces on board three more CNCo vessels (Coral Chief, Highland Chief and New Guinea Chief). The company’s decision to place these three vessels under a remote monitoring agreement follows a successful pilot scheme on its multipurpose vessel, Papuan Chief.
RH Marine Group, formerly known as Imtech Marine, was established in November following the acquisition by Parcom Capital and Pon Holdings. Radio Holland is a renowned global navcom, connectivity, onboard ICT and maintenance brand within the portfolio of RH Marine Group.
Radio Holland has worked closely with CNCo for several years and was already the preferred supplier for the navigation/communications package for CNCo’s newbuild program, which involves 37 multipurpose ships and bulk carriers. Radio Holland has already installed the integrated bridge system on 30 of these vessels and the remaining seven will have the new bridge fitted in 2016.
Commenting on the Radio Holland remote monitoring agreement, Frank Berends, global manager of remote services, said, “We can, for example, monitor if the radar and ECDIS are working properly, examine data sent to the VDR and check all the GMDSS equipment on board. Most problems can be solved remotely, otherwise we prepare to send engineers to the next port, with the correct parts.”
The Radio Holland remote monitoring agreement cuts onboard maintenance and the time it takes to do surveys considerably. David Watts, Radio Holland regional director for Asia, said, “An annual on board survey usually averages six to eight hours. But by Radio Holland engineers testing equipment remotely and verifying data, this can fall to just two to four hours. With a 50 percent reduction of maintenance hours on a large fleet of ships over their lifetime, this represents significant savings for the shipowner.”
For more information, visit www.radioholland.net.
