BareFLEET is a cloud-based monitoring platform that will give Wight Shipyard an unprecedented level of insight into the performance of the new vessel as it enters operational service on the Thames. The system will ultimately enable MBNA Thames Clippers to optimise performance, reduce maintenance costs and enhance safety for London’s swelling numbers of river commuters.

Wight Shipyard’s adoption of the BareFLEET system is part of the wider digitalisation of operational practices throughout the maritime sector. The ferry builder will use the system, which couples the latest remote data collection technology with advanced vessel performance monitoring software, to ensure that each vessel it delivers performs to design specification, and that warranty claims are settled fairly. This data will also feed into the design and build of future vessels, driving continuous operational improvements.

The new vessel, the 38-metre Catamaran VENUS CLIPPER, is the largest of the MBNA Thames Clipper fleet, with a capacity of 222 passengers. This will allow an additional 300,000 people to travel on London’s river routes annually. The vessel uses twin symmetric hulls designed for frequent and repeated berthing at London’s floating piers, with a propulsion system chosen for navigating the demanding tidal conditions of the River Thames at speed.

Through the daily vessel reports produced by BareFLEET, Wight Shipyard can monitor all operational and navigational activity, including the time spent at each berth. Vessel metrics including engine health, fuel use, and CO2 emissions are recorded, along with any alarms that have occurred throughout the day. This data is then fed back to Wight Shipyard via the cloud, and shared directly with Thames Clippers, creating full transparency between builder and vessel owner during the warranty period.

This continuous monitoring also enables the shipyard to address any issues for MBNA Thames Clippers before they result in downtime for the vessel. For the operator, this means that time on the water can be maximised, whilst maintaining the highest standards of service and passenger safety. At the end of the shipyard monitoring period, the BareFLEET system can be handed over to MBNA Thames Clippers to maintain performance and safety throughout the operational lifetime of the vessel.

Chris Huxley-Reynard, Engineering Director, Reygar Ltd, said: “Comprehensive data monitoring is essential for both shipyards and vessel operators. Thorough reporting on how new vessels like Catamaran VENUS CLIPPER perform is critical both in ensuring warranty claims are resolved equitably and verifying that the design is delivering to specification – ultimately meeting the commercial goals of the end-user.”

“BareFLEET will not only provide an important insight into the operation of this ferry as she begins her life on the Thames, keeping her on the water and available to passengers, but will also inform the design and development of new, smarter vessels in the future.”

“The ongoing collection of critical data by the BareFLEET system allows us to keep track of the vessel in operation, ensuring that it delivers against its potential and remains consistently available for MBNA Thames Clippers as they expand the River Bus offering to best serve London’s commuters,” said Ollie Gove, Engineering Manager, Wight Shipyard.

“We can use the reports BareFLEET produces to verify that vessel performance meets our expectations and matches our machinery suppliers stated levels. VENUS CLIPPER is our first new-build to include the BareFLEET system from the outset, and we are already looking forward to installing it in a number of our upcoming vessels.”