Philippine E-Journals

MaDox: A Digital Tracking and Scheduling System for the Dry Docking of Philippine-flagged Vessels

John Carlo U. Ranoco | Dweena Maye V. Zamora | Raymond C. Espina

 

Abstract:

The Philippine maritime industry is leaping towards advancements through technology solutions. To support this movement, the MARINA Strategic Voyage Plan 2028, under Program 5, aims for the development of a Global Maritime Hub in the Philippines. This program entails spearheading research projects focusing on the innovation of maritime ancillary services that would involve Philippine flagged vessels, ship owners, local shipyards, and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Drydocking is one of the salient processes in the country’s maritime industry. During this process, a vessel is brought to dry land to perform necessary maintenance and repair. As per the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements, all merchant vessels need a complete survey of the hull twice within a 5-year period and an intermediate survey within 36 months from the previous drydock. To adhere with these international SOLAS requirements, Philippine-registered ships need to be drydocked twice every five (5) years. The absence of a digital tracking and scheduling system causes the ship owners to have difficulties in overseeing their vessel’s drydocking calendar as required by SOLAS. Since shipyards have a limited drydocking capacity, urgent drydocking appointments may pose scheduling problems on the side of the ship owners as to which shipyard would be readily available to provide immediate drydocking service. Likewise, shipyards would need to create changes to their working schedules to accommodate these urgent drydocking appointments. These rush appointments also tend to have lacking vessel plans and documents needed to start the drydock as scheduled which results in further delays. With this problem in mind, the authors propose to design and develop a digital tracking and scheduling system for the drydocking of Philippine-flagged vessels. The provision of such a system would optimize the ship drydocking process and would further lead to more efficient operations in boatyards, shipyards, and in the maritime industry in general.