Five Easy Steps For Harnessing Marine Offshore Data

Jun 18, 2021 | Blog

Marine Offshore Data: how to leverage information to generate efficiency in offshore operations
Image: Igor-Kardasov

Marine Offshore Data Management Challenges

Marine Offshore Data Management Challenges: Opsealog Founder and Managing Director, Arnaud Dianoux, recently spoke at the Offshore Support Journal conference on the value of the data mindset in today’s marine and offshore sectors,and how this can be leveraged – in combination with maritime expertise – to generate tangible operational efficiencies

Arnaud captained an offshore vessel for four years before founding Opsealog, which specializes in performance management for the energy and maritime sectors. Opsealog was inspired by his strong belief in the value of data when deployed correctly. Here, in the first of two blog posts that recap his presentation at the OSJ conference, Arnaud sets out five steps to take to unlock this value.

The last year has been a challenging one across the globe, with the pandemic disrupting our daily lives and countless businesses and operations. Additionally, the oil and gas sectors face an era-defining transformation, spanning changes in supply and demand patterns to the growing pressure to curb carbon emissions and improve environmental performance. At the same time, energy operators must also control their costs and protect profit. Inevitably, this pressure is also felt by their supply chain partners.

Five steps to successfully implement maritime digital solutions

The process of leveraging data can be broken down and defined by five steps. These steps are key to keep in mind when developing a data-driven strategy.

A useful way of looking at how we leverage data is to compare it to crude oil. By itself, crude oil is of limited use. However, there is a well-defined, tried, and tested set of processes that need to be actioned in order to unlock its value. Once potential sources are identified and the raw material extracted, so begins the process of converting it into something that holds a measurable value.  It is then time to process, package, and distribute the product to entities that can make productive use of it.

We can follow these same principles to extract value from data.

1. Define your goals and align them with your strategy

Step one: Your goals need to be bespoke to your operations and the questions you need to answer. There is no off-the-shelf option here. Be clear on what you need to achieve.

2. Assess different sources of data

Step two involves assessing different sources of data. This can be challenging, but identifying, collecting and integrating data from various suppliers and assets, be it in-house or from third parties, collected centrally or sourced from your offshore assets – is imperative.

3. Transform raw data into actionable insights

Step three is about turning raw data into actionable intelligence, with the aim of generating tangible benefits. For this, an algorithm will be required, combined with insights by subject matter experts, such as those on the Opsealog operational team. No single algorithm can be applied to every business model or strategy, so the dissection of specific details and implementation of a tailored data solution is crucial at this point.

The main takeaway from this step is that businesses are given greater insight into their operations – not merely through the use of an algorithm, but by developing a deeper understanding of the intricacies of operations, and the factors influencing their success or inefficiency. This is achieved through in-depth analysis of results, and ongoing input into how a strategy can be adjusted to maximise productivity and reduce costs.

4. Analyze and Optimize

Step four is the optimization phase, where the process of converting data and KPIs into action comes into view. Using these insights, your team can analyze performance and act upon the data whilst continually refining procedures and improving processes as the data management strategy matures.

5. Industrialize

Step five, the final and most important step, involves ‘industrialization’ of the now-matured process, scaling up and extracting as much insight as possible. By refining the strategy, continuing to collect data, aligning it with objectives, and actioning data-driven decisions, a team can further its efforts to improve efficiency on a global scale.

How benefits from marine offshore data management stack up

Good data gives you greater visibility over your operations, enabling the implementation of more effective performance management practices. This in turn, reduces operational and business risks.

Being data-driven also prepares an organization to face new challenges. With the increased visibility of your operations and continued analysis of your short, medium, and long-term strategy during each stage of rollout, you will be able to react more quickly as required to changing circumstances. This will help accelerate your data maturity, improve your results and embed a more adaptable and efficient approach.

As we have learned in the past year, the challenges we face can vary, including those we least expect – from the energy transition to a global pandemic.  This is why it is important for an organization to prepare itself and be nimble in its approach.

The Potential of Data Sharing in the Maritime Industry

Image: metamorworks The maritime industry is a complex ecosystem involving multiple companies, each with different data maturity levels. The industry comprises diverse stakeholders, from ship operators, port authorities, cargo owners, and insurance companies. The vast...

The Role of Data in Tackling OSV Industry Challenges

Images: Rivieramm Insights from Opsealog and the OSJ 2023 The Offshore Support Journal Conference and Awards 2023 was an incredible event that took place from February 7th to 9th in London. It brought together the key players of the offshore supply vessel (OSV)...

Port Digitalization: benefits, challenges, and opportunities

The global economy relies heavily on the shipping and port industry, which is responsible for transporting goods and materials worldwide. Digital technologies have the potential to transform the industry, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing...

Harnessing Technology for Ship Environmental Compliance

The white paper on "Harnessing technology for ship environmental compliance" explores how technology can be leveraged to ensure that ships comply with environmental regulations. The paper highlights various technologies, such as monitoring systems and data analytics,...

A three-point vessel decarbonization plan: data, collaboration, action

If we want to improve the offshore industry, we need collaboration on vessel decarbonization that is underpinned by transparent, standardized data. The Forum for Decarbonising the OSV Industry recognized two important, interrelated elements to successful...

A Pathway To Sustainable Development Goals In Shipping

The era of environmental accountability is upon us. It's no longer enough to do the right thing or say we do, we need strong processes to measure our efforts and guide our actions. Shipping's decarbonization journey is just the start of what is to come as we embrace...

8 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About The Maritime Industry

If you've ever admired a boat or a ship and wondered who works on them and who those people are, you're in the right place. We often forget that there's so much more to the maritime industry than large, roll-on roll-off vessels and massive oil tankers that bring us...

How to effectively monitor ship fuel consumption without additional sensors

Advances in maritime digitalization have led to an increase in investment for better monitoring of fuel consumption. Electronic Fuel Monitoring Systems can provide valuable, real-time information on equipment performance and fuel consumption, but they can also be...

4 ways to reduce ship fuel consumption

Even though it may seem obvious, there are many different types of actions that ship owners and charterers can put in place to optimize consumption. Consumption optimization is a topic that isn’t one-dimensional. It’s one part of a complex group of factors that impact...

Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. and Opsealog to boost fuel efficiency and optimizing fleet operations

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP), a joint venture between the Government of Brunei and Shell plc, deploys Opsealog’s digital reporting and fleet optimization tools across a 45-vessel fleet following a successful trial that saved up to 10% on monthly fuel...