Kongsberg Digital introduces merchant vessel focused Vessel Performance app

Vessel Performance Merchant will be built on the same interface and functionality as the original Vessel Performance application, which has been providing shipowners and crew members with insight and analytics since 2020. It collects and contextualises data from the vessel’s onboard sensors, automation systems, and manually reported data through the vessel-to-cloud cloud infrastructure Vessel Insight.

Offshore and merchant segments have distinct differences in terms of operational profiles and optimisation requirements. To address the differences in operations and underlying decision-making for the two segments, Kongsberg Digital is launching the ‘Vessel Performance Merchant’ application. This application is specially tailored for long, global-spanning merchant voyages in the maritime merchant segment.

While offshore vessels operate on shorter, dynamic voyages and often need to be at a standstill in a single position over time – also known as dynamic positioning – merchant vessels undertake long and stable voyages. The differences extend to the planning phase of the voyage. Unlike offshore operations, where objectives can often change within a very short period of time, merchant voyages are normally planned several weeks ahead.

The application will provide merchant vessel’s operators with customisable dashboards that seamlessly integrate with other specialised performance and analytics tools, such as CII and Maritime Digital Twin Trim Optimisation, as well as the Application Work Surface. Through this, Vessel Performance Merchant enables crew members and onshore management to make well-informed decisions regarding energy drivers, conduct voyage comparisons, and optimise fuel consumption.

“Merchant shipping companies transport the world’s cargo and shipping, representing long voyages, and depending on the contract, they either follow the same routes repeatedly or work towards the spot market. On the other hand, the offshore segment supports the offshore oil and gas industry with vessels that go out to platforms and perform specific, advanced operations. These different operational profiles drive different needs, again creating different requirements for performance applications. Kongsberg Digital recognises these requirements and is therefore addressing them by launching the Vessel Performance Merchant application”, says Sigrid Johansen, Product Manager at Kongsberg Digital.