Marine Software Newsletter - October 2010
British Antarctic Survey installs Marine Project Manager at Cambridge Headquarters and on Research Vessels 'James Clark Ross' and 'Ernest Shackleton'
U.K. based Marine Software Ltd have recently supplied their MPJ - Marine Project Manager solution to British Antarctic Survey Research Vessels the ‘James Clark Ross’ and the ‘Ernest Shackleton’.
BAS also commissioned Marine Software to produce Master specifications for each vessel, based on the last 5 years annual refits and Dry dockings. This service offered a powerful combination by Marine Software and ensured that MPJ was used immediately for 2010 annual refits. These Master Refit Specifications are used as the backbone for each new refit specification.
A comprehensive training program was also implemented by Marine Software at their BAS head office in Cambridge. This ensured that each crew from both vessels and office based technical staff had sufficient knowledge on gaining the maximum benefit from using the MPJ software.
Each vessel has been installed with two separate versions of the MPJ - the ‘Superintendents’ and the ‘Vessel’ Versions. Onboard each vessel, the Superintendents MPJ will be controlled by the senior officers, where they will compile the Annual Refit Specification and administer the system when the ship enters the shipyard for refit.
The Vessel’s MPJ is a smaller version and allows any crew member to create any type of refit job – albeit a defect, modification, or “nice to have”. These jobs can then be imported into the ship’s Superintendents version and included into the current refit specification if deemed necessary by the senior officers.
The Cambridge Marine Technical Office imports the completed refit specification from each ship into their ‘Superintendents’ version in the office. This ensures the ability of sending out specifications to various shipyards and other sub-contractors for tendering analysis, either as a printed copy or electronically.
A free MPJ ‘Contractor’ Version is available for download from Marine Software that allows the BAS contractors to import the issued projects and complete the quote electronically. This is returned back to BAS electronically for easy import into the MPJ ‘Superintendents’ version.
Once all tenders have been received, an evaluation of all tender costs can be carried out. Finally, when the chosen shipyard and sub-contractors tenders have been accepted, the specification is transferred from the Superintendents version in the office back to the vessel, where the refit can be controlled when the ship arrives at the shipyard.
Marine Software also offers a service to assist Superintendents who might require their Word refit specifications transferred into the MPJ Program, if they decided to start using the MPJ.
BAS Comments:-
"British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the latest Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) organisation to use the Marine Software Project Manager module. The National Oceanographic Centre (NOC) already uses it. The BAS ship Operations team use the software to compile specifications, submit and evaluate tenders, monitor and allocate budgets, in a single project management package. All members of the marine staff onboard the ship can use the software. BAS are satisfied with the technical and product support from Marine Software.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS), a component of the Natural Environment Research Council, delivers world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that underpins a productive economy and contributes to a sustainable world. Its numerous national and international collaborations, leadership role in Antarctic affairs and excellent infrastructure help ensure that the UK maintains a world leading position. BAS has over 450 staff and operates five research stations, two Royal Research Ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica"
