Project for condition-based survey approach

ABS and Topaz Energy and Marine have, together with the State Maritime Agency under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASMA), announced a pioneering project which enables a condition-based survey approach.

'Caspian Voyager'
'Caspian Voyager' Image: Topaz Energy and Marine/ Graham Curran - MarineTraffic.com

The new partnership is expected to help align Topaz’s maintenance strategy with future condition-based class rules from ABS, moving from a prescriptive survey to condition-based. This venture marks a significant step in Topaz’s journey to transform its fleet to a condition-based class model. The entry of Caspian Voyager, Topaz’s largest modern Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) in the Caspian, into the Extended Dry-Docking (EDD) scheme acts as a bridge for this transition.

The programme will extend the vessel’s maximum dry-docking period from 5 to 7.5 years, allowing the vessel to undergo In-Water Surveys (IWS), resulting in higher availability and productivity.

Digital transformation

Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS chairman, president and CEO, said: “This solution compliments Topaz’s digital efforts in targeting critical areas for repair, prioritising maintenance requirements, and efficient scheduling and using resources to improve availability of their assets, whilst also meeting class and statutory requirements.”

Martin Helweg, COO at Topaz Energy and Marine, added: “This agreement is a milestone in our journey towards digital transformation. At Topaz, we focus relentlessly on ensuring the quality and safety of our operations. We aim to be a best-in-class, reliable, innovative service provider to our customers and we believe that with our partners, ABS and ASMA, we are making yet another step in the right direction to provide the tools necessary to achieve this.”