Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is to implement an electronic Unattended Machinery Space (UMS) monitoring system across its managed fleet, to collect and manages data from UMS checks conducted onboard vessels.
Following multiple operational trials conducted onboard vessels between 2024 and 2026, the company says it plans to begin a phased, full-scale implementation of the technology from July of this year.
UMS checks are inspection and verification procedures conducted prior to operating in an unattended mode, such as when navigating at night or while at berth. These checks include approximately 1,000 individual inspection items.
To date, crew members, including engineers, have recorded each inspection item manually on paper. This paper-based process required the use of both hands, creating slip, trip, and fall risks in unstable conditions, such as on moving vessels or in areas with limited footing.
To address these challenges, the company developed a system enabling inspection data to be recorded using smartphones and a dedicated application. By making one-handed data entry possible, crew members can use their other hand to support themselves or stow the smartphone in a pocket while moving.
The platform centrally collects and stores data long term, replacing the previous method of storing individual vessel records on paper and supporting continuous equipment condition monitoring, helping to prevent overlooked abnormalities and enabling early detection.
The company says that it also aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the accumulated data to further improve its proactive and systematic safety management.
