Equipment & Procurement The battle to maximise asset value To drive more profitability, every area of vessel operation must be scrutinised to eliminate inefficiencies. E-procurement is a critical component in the vessel optimisation challenge SMM 2018, with its plethora of innovations, is where many of the solutions to ease the pressure of current challenges for shipping – tight freight rates, stringent current and impending environmental regulations, drive for sustainability, increased competition – are showcased. The 2018 edition is particularly significant. For the next time we are all gathered in Hamburg in 2020, the global sulphur cap regulation will have been enforced for six months. If the majority of opinion formers are right, the cost of shipping will rise exponentially; by at least 24 bn $ per year according to consultants Wood Mackenzie. Now is the time to look at every available opportunity to cut costs and operational expenditure, reduce downtime, improve operational and environmental efficiencies, increase competitive advantage, and drive more profitability. Every area of vessel operation must be scrutinised to achieve this and eliminate inefficiencies, ranging from sub optimal systems on ships to lengthy waiting times in ports. We are fortunate that the developments in technology and connectivity, and the digital transformation of the shipping industry are facilitating progressive change. At this year’s SMM exhibition stands there are even more examples of the positive development of commercially viable technologies and digital solutions; advanced weather routing software, clean technologies to drive fuel efficiency, state-of-the-art monitoring systems, more advanced ship-to-shore communications, and – of course – e-procurement platforms. What has become clear though is that these solutions cannot operate in isolation; one individual company cannot solve the entire vessel optimisation challenge on its own. There is a requirement for collaboration from multiple parties with different skill sets and the creation of an ecosystem that connects the entire marine supply chain. We have started to see the development of this concept in the industry. For example, Wärtsilä has committed to a strategy to create what they call a »smart marine ecosystem« of intelligent vessels, monitored remotely, with a 48 HANSA International Maritime Journal – 155. Jahrgang – 2018 – Nr. 9
Equipment & Procurement hybrid power solution, navigating with smart weather routing software, combined with automated manoeuvring at sea. And at port, real time visibility of ship arrival and departure times, as well as automated docking are helping to make waiting times a thing of the past. To create a total ecosystem that truly optimises assets, every aspect of a vessel’s operation must be considered. The sourcing and procurement of supplies is a critical element in the overall optimisation challenge. It is also an area where significant strides can be made in tandem with the digitisation of shipping. Switch to strategic procurement For the last 18 years, the ShipServ e-procurement platform has been developed, using the latest technologies and cloudbased systems to make it an efficient, reliable and data-rich, insight-driven solution. It now serves over 200 buyer organisations representing 9,000 vessels, six yards, and 70,000 suppliers, with annual trade running at 3.5 bn $. One could argue that this is a sign of an improving economic environment, but also a signal that more companies are realising the power of e-procurement, and the commercial advantages that can be achieved. For marine buyers, it’s about benefitting from increased productivity of 30% from procurement time savings, reducing OPEX by optimising procurement spend, as well as using actionable intelligence to maximise the performance of suppliers and create better and more dynamic relationships. Suppliers have access to a virtual marketplace of active buyers, where they can build their brand, increase efficiencies and the speed of processing multiple transactions, responding to RFQs, as well as driving customer retention and winning more business through faster turnaround times. While progress has undoubtedly been made, more can be done to drive adoption in line with the creation of a holistic marine ecosystem. Within the field of purchasing and supply, there is a real requirement for more transparency and collaboration where there is focus on the end-to-end optimisation of the total cost of supply and the process behind it, not just looking at the cost of a single product. For example, by creating even more connectivity between procurement de- IN PERFECT HARMONY Elektrische Antriebe für Schiffswinden und Offshore, für NT-Betrieb bis -50°C electrical drives for marine winches and offshore, for LT-operation down to -50°C BEN BUCHELE ELEKTROMOTORENWERKE GMBH POPPENREUTHER STR. 49A 90419 NÜRNBERG POSTFACH 91 04 40 90262 NÜRNBERG TEL. +49 911 3748-0 FAX +49 911 3748-138 Internet: www.benbuchele.de E-Mail: info@benbuchele.de FLUID TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS AND SERVICES FROM A SINGLE SOURCE Experience now: www.perfectly-harmonised.com and at SMM in hall A1 on booth A1.219 from 4 – 7 September 2018 in Hamburg HANSA International Maritime Journal – 155. Jahrgang – 2018 – Nr. 9 49
