Kawasaki Receives First Order for "SOPass," a New System Designed to Utilize Big Data Technologies
Tokyo, July 13, 2017 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced its receipt of the first-ever order for their Ship Operation and Performance analysis support system (SOPass) from Mitsui & Co., Ltd. SOPass is a newly developed system that makes use of big data technologies, and this first system will be installed on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built by Kawasaki and chartered by Mitsui.
In addition to the inclusion of new cloud-server features and machine learning, SOPass improves upon and integrates the functions of existing systems, including the Kawasaki-Integrated Maritime Solutions comprehensive ship information system, which provides information regarding optimal routes for standard cargo vessels, and the LNGC-NEO*1 and LNGC-ISS*2 ship operation control support systems, which are designed specifically for LNG carriers and enable fuel consumption analysis. SOPass also includes newly developed LNG cargo management optimization functions—the first of their kind in the industry—intended for use in LNG carriers. Installing SOPass, which can be used on a wide variety of vessels, enables optimal route proposals and visual representation of cargo and engine area operating conditions for more economical and safer ship operations.
Advantages of the SOPass
- 1) By analyzing and learning from fuel consumption data, weather-related information, hull condition data and other operational data stored on cloud servers, SOPass can propose sea routes that are safe and use the least amount of fuel while also issuing automated reports on predictions of future fuel consumption, ship speed, maintenance requirements and so forth to reduce ship operating costs and improve overall safety.
- 2) Furthermore, an industry-first set of functions designed specifically for LNG carriers enables management of natural gas, which is subjected to natural evaporation during shipping (boil-off gas), while proposing sea routes that consume the least amount of fuel and operations with the optimal heel amounts*3.
- 3) SOPass also allows for the creation of system functions tailored to individual user needs. The version of SOPass ordered by Mitsui will be customized and designed together with the client to ensure system features that match user approaches and aims.
- 4) Through collaborative efforts with Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. (ShipDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), a non-profit ship classification society, Kawasaki has launched a private cloud server network featuring a reliable classified information protection and information management system incorporating countermeasures against information leakage, computer viruses and other threats.
- 5) SOPass is a highly versatile general-purpose system that can be installed in existing vessels as well as newly built ships.
Moving forward, Kawasaki will respond to diverse customer needs regarding advancements in the field of ship operation management systems by utilizing Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies as well as the synergy achieved among the broad range of technologies possessed by the Kawasaki Group to contribute to further developments in the maritime industry.
*1 LNG Carrier satellite Network Observation
*2 LNG Carrier Integrated Solution Support
*3 The volume of LNG left in cargo tanks to be used as refrigerant for cooling as well as fuel for the ship on a ballast voyage.
