LR in collaboration with Roxana and IRI were engaged in a pilot project with the objective to investigate under what conditions a remote survey may be consistently and reliably equivalent to the physical survey.

At this stage the engaged parties applied and tested remote survey techniques by conducting simultaneously both survey types (physical & remote) during the special survey of M/T Altesse.

This way the effectiveness and efficiency of the remote survey could be easily compared with the physical survey results, since the remote survey conclusions could be easily verified by a physical inspection on the spot. At the same time issues raised during the remote survey were listed for addressing by the parties engaged in the project. The interview with Mr. Takis Koutris follows:

NAFS : Could you please tell us some details of that special sur- vey & renewal conducted in your 10 years old oil/chemical tanker? Did you experience any difficult moments or even moments of frustration during this project?
T. K. : The most hard to manage factor was the communication either due to Internet quality or due to physical noise in the inspection areas. Both factors boost the language barrier, English being the common language.
Internet quality is managed with a careful selection of timing, lay- out and provider, still was the major problem we faced.
Physical noise was managed by the use of online chat with the operator on board so that instructions could be given to him as
to what equipment to operate and where to face the camera. Alternatively by appointing an intermediate contact on board in a noiseless room, in contact with the ship team by VHF and with the inspectors team via the videoconferencing platform.
NAFS : Do you believe that remote surveys will help both shipping companies and class societies to protect the safety of crew, surveyors and auditors so to ensure the continuity of operations in an efficient way?
T. K. : Ιt is beyond doubt that remote surveys as concept has surfaced due to the covid19 pandemic.
Remote surveys, drones and similar technology, have been already applied prior the covid19 pandemic, with the objective to manage the risk of access to enclosed and dangerous spaces.
Inspections are risky operations for the surveyors and the seafarers, particularly due to time limitations, inspections mostly when ship in port, and risks are not only associated to enclosed and dangerous spaces, but to access on board in general (transit, launch, pilot and accommodation ladder, gangway) and move on board. Remote surveys are definitely removing the hazards of:


• Transit and access on board, access to enclosed and dangerous spaces, walk on board


• time pressure, fatigue, distraction due to simultaneous operations (subject to the adequate internet bandwidth inspections may be planned at sea)


• Virus spread from shore to ship
As a conclusion remote surveys will ensure the health and safety of surveyors and auditors and improve the health and safety of crew, at the same time ensuring the undistracted and incident free port operations.
NAFS : A key challenge in every remote survey is to use people, resources, and equipment in an effective and efficient way. Did Roxana possessed the technical knowledge base and expertise in that pilot project?
T. K. : Triggered by the covid19 pandemic we launched in Mar20
a project for remote surveys, engaging colleagues from all depts. M/T Altesse was selected as pilot ship.
In our system we know that for any project we have to manage the challenges of the relevant S.H.E.LL. factors.
Software, we:


◊ divided the ship in locations


◊ assigned teams on board and ashore accountable to present the locations


◊ revised our Ship inspection and audit checklists and LRS annual inspection checklists with inspection items sorted by location


◊ documented in our system:


• the remote surveys and the new hardware layout


• the video conferencing platforms
Hardware, we:
purchased and connected smart glasses, tablets, cabling, modems, switches, a local SIM card and 3G/4G Hot spots to ensure cyber secure internet availability to the survey locations on board.
Environment:


◊ timing was selected to
•

minimize fatigue, distraction, noise

• maximise daylight, dry weather

LLiveware, we:


◊ familiarised our teams ashore and on board with the new procedures and hardware.
The proper planning ensured the incident free, effective and efficient completion of the remote class annual survey, with lessons learnt for more successful remote surveys.
One of the most interesting side outcomes was that a lot of the features of the remote surveys will be still valid when we are pandemic free, becoming norm in our system.
NAFS: Do you agree that remote surveys trigger a big opportunity for the shipping industry to be improved in terms of cost savings and provide an answer to challenging environmental legislations and rules?
T. K. : As we have already stated remote surveys as concept has surfaced due to the covid19 pandemic and the incentive was the health rather than the cost.
Furthermore the remote surveys, drones and similar technology, have been already applied prior the covid19 pandemic, again with the objective to manage the risk of access to enclosed and dangerous spaces rather than manage the cost of the inspection.
On the other hand applying remote surveys will necessitate a substantial investment in hardware, software and learning engagements of stakeholders, while the resources and time which is required for the effective completion of the survey is considerably higher.
Having said the above we think that cost efficiency might be a minor side effect of applying Incident Free Effective & Efficient (IF EffEff) remote surveys, while the major advantages, in terms of HSQE management, are:
◊ removing of the hazards of


• access on board, access to enclosed and dangerous spaces, walk on board


• time pressure, fatigue, subject to the adequate internet bandwidth inspections may be planned at sea, time zones being the single restriction


◊ repeatability of the inspection


• replay off-line, multiple view options


• seek a third opinion
◊ expanded participation


• mixed skills surveyors


• flag surveyors


• fleet sup/nts ashore


As a conclusion remote surveys, besides the marginal cost efficiency, will provide a reliable solution to the:
◊ ever changing and increasing regulatory regime
◊ relevant enhanced inspection and audit requirements
NAFS: What would be the next steps in this project?
T. K. : The parties have already gathered adequate experience on the remote surveys, audits and inspections.
LRS should liaise with Flags and Ship managers to introduce a “re- mote survey notation”, regulating:
◊ the hardware and software requirements for the ship, the Flag, the Class and the Operator


◊ the competence of the participants in the survey


◊ the timing and the possible combination with or endorsement by a physical survey

* Managing Director, Roxana Shipping SA; Kristen Marine SA