Loodswezen, the Dutch Maritime Pilot’s Association, has contracted Nautim to provide project management support of an extensive mid-life refit of the pilot vessel Cetus. The contract represents the first time that Nautim, the Netherlands-based maritime technical office, has worked together with Loodswezen.
To extend and improve the operational lifespan of the Cetus, Loodswezen has chosen to perform an extensive mid-life refit during the vessel’s routine 5-year Class Survey scheduled for the end of the summer. The scope of work planned for the 2005-built vessel is considerable: including replacement of the entire propulsion system, generators, piping, electrics and cooling water systems. The vessel’s interior accommodation – fit for twelve passengers and three crew members – is also set to receive a major refurbishment. The Cetus, a 25.65 metre twin-hulled SWATH vessel, is also due for renewed stability calculations.
Nautim’s project management role is assisting during the project. The company will be keeping a close eye on the project’s finances. “We also handle budget planning and, crucially, budget control,” informs Nautim Director Vincent de Jong. “During the refit, we will also provide Loodswezen with weekly progress reports to keep them fully up to date.” This open and regular communication is a key part of Nautim’s way of doing business: “We keep clients informed, so there are no surprises. Our clients really appreciate this.”
Reverse engineering
In preparation for the refit works, Nautim is utilising the latest reverse engineering technology. This complex technique involves taking 3D scans of the vessel to gain information about structural and naval architectural details. The data can then be used to generate AutoCAD drawings – crucial for the engineering process.
To collect the required data, Nautim engineers recently performed 3D scans of Cetus’s identical sister vessel, the Perseus, while it was in dry dock undergoing a propeller shaft inspection. Being able to make these reverse engineering calculations at such an early stage will be very beneficial to Nautim’s operations over the next couple of months – optimising the time in dry dock and ultimately reducing vessel downtime.
Cutting the costs
Nautim will use a specialised dry docking software program during the upcoming Cetus upgrade. The company developed the software with the goal of improving the efficiency of the entire docking process. “We developed this software package in-house about two years ago and since then it has really proved its worth,” comments Mr De Jong. “In particular, feedback from customers has been very positive as time spent in the dry dock is very expensive. So anything that we can do to minimise that time will reduce their costs.”
Opening contract
The Cetus mid-life extension represents Nautim’s first contract with Loodswezen. Mr De Jong concludes: “It makes this job all the more special for us. Loodswezen is a well-respected organisation and we are looking forward to contributing our experience to this project.”