If you've recently purchased a boat, then you want it to last a long time. However, sustained maintenance and repairs make it challenging to keep track of structural changes to a vessel. This can result in complicated future repairs as the boat approaches the end of its life. Thanks to technology, there is no more uncertainty since marine engineers can rely on a vessel's digital twin to keep up with changes in the boat's configuration. This article highlights the role that a digital twin plays in servicing a commercial vessel.

Quality Sensor Data

The first and arguably most important factor is the quality of data collected by the sensors installed in the vessel's hull. This data must be relevant for engineers to rely on it when monitoring the boat's performance. Since different manufacturers supply these sensors, it is crucial for marine engineers to be careful with the sensors they install on a boat. If you cannot trust the data output from a particular sensor, then the vessel's digital twin will be useless in a vessel service decision-making process. Therefore, the only way to ensure quality data is sent to the digital twin is to use sensors that have passed industry quality assurance rules.

Strategic Servicing

Vessel maintenance can take place at the dock or sea. However, when a vessel malfunctions at sea, it can take a bit of guessing from the engineer before they conclude on the best servicing approach. In most cases, the engineers prefer to turn off the boat to diagnose the problem. This can lead to delays and, consequently, significant losses to a business. The boat's digital twin eliminates this issue because it allows engineers to perform simulations and determine which parts can be repaired while the vessel is operational. This helps to avoid expensive and time-consuming servicing and repairs of non-essential parts.

Proactive Safe Loading

As indicated earlier, repairs and refits can alter a vessel's structural form throughout its life. These changes can lead to torsional vibrations for commercial vessels while in transit, thereby putting the cargo, crew and the boat at risk. It is especially the case in turbulent sea conditions where the waves hit the sides of the vessel with massive force. The sensors in the hull can detect these vibrations and make them visible on the digital twin immediately. Therefore, marine engineers can make an informed decision on how to best load the containers without affecting the fatigue life of the vessel's structural elements.   

For more information about commercial vessel servicing, contact a ship servicing business in your area.