Maintenance partnership targets stacked offshore vessels

The service is intended to preserve onboard equipment during long periods of disuse and enable efficient recommissioning at a later date. ABB will use data gathered through its remote diagnostic services to tailor the care packages.

Pål Nikolaysen, head of offshore service, ABB Marine and Ports, said: “Stacking is a special situation where expert advice and understanding of preservation is needed in order not to jeopardise the equipment. It is a sign of the times that there is a strong demand for these services but we are always responsive to what our customers require.”

Where available, remote diagnostics will provide real time data on important factors like temperature and humidity to enable the upkeep of equipment. ABB’s integrated operations centres will also monitor data produced by onboard equipment

ABB already offers a Stacking Care programme and reports that a large number of drill ships in Korean shipyards use the solution, which can be employed for both warm stacking (ready but idle) and longer-term cold stacking, where vessels are shut down and stored