How 5G is enabling smart eyewear for the maritime industry

5G enables a new standard for on-site inspection and accelerates the tech-enabled workforce in maritime environment to enhance productivity, capability, quality and safety. Remote inspection has enabled Keppel to work around conventional, physical-based inspection which requires on-site personnel.

There were, however, technical challenges – which is why Keppel collaborated with the three major marine classification societies (ABS, DNV and BV) with the common goal of revolutionising remote quality inspections. This began a lengthy trial process, which involved ironing out the key issues to image and video streaming quality. Keppel’s close and ongoing partnership with the marine societies has enabled them to chart the way forward for both safety and innovation.

Through these and other partnerships with IMDA, M1 and technology experts, Keppel are developing AR-enabled digital twins which field engineers can use to receive real-time remote guidance. By overlaying sensor data onto their field of vision, they gain significant understanding of real-time critical issues and conditions during operations.

Smart glasses are also being used to conduct remote virtual walkthroughs of vessels – allowing Keppel engineers, clients, and classification societies to perform pre-construction feasibility assessments simultaneously – enabling potential engineering design issues to be identified earlier. Engineers can use smart glasses to validate that the project is being constructed to the correct specifications across different yards and locations where various vessel components are manufactured.

Since implementing smart glass remote inspection in 2019, there has been a great reduction in potential risk of bacteria and virus transmission for clients participating in the various yard inspection processes. What’s more, they now have assurance that inspections are able to continue remotely using the smart glasses even when personnel are unable to attend the site.

In addition, the operations and commissioning team have benefitted from the remote expert function that’s used to assist and train the staff in real time. By conducting the inspections remotely, processes have been streamlined, and inspection time has been cut down significantly. Keppel expect to reduce the QC manhours for inspection by 50%, from 16000 manhours to 8000 each year. They further project that field engineer efficiency will increase by 40%, and equipment downtime will be reduced by 10%.

With the 5G AR/VR smart glass solution, the need for manual processing of documents is also greatly reduced, resulting in higher efficiency and less environmental waste. Engineers and onshore teams are able to communicate more seamlessly with the offshore team via virtual platforms to troubleshoot issues relating to asset health monitoring. For clients, vendors and customers, remote collaboration has enabled closer collaboration throughout different phases of each project.

Keppel are the first company in Southeast Asia’s maritime industry to pilot 5G AR/VR solutions. The remote operation applications they have implemented are ideal for many other industries such as construction, engineering, oil and gas industries, and any other organisation which practices product and equipment inspection.

As industries face constraints on resources such as manpower, this 5G-enabled smart glass is a perfect opportunity to transform operations and reduce expenditure in the long run.

Inspection-as-a-service

Project gives company visions for the future

Keppel envisions an inspection-as-a-service model to emerge from this virtual platform for remote inspection, survey, audit and collaboration – this will enable them to offer value-added services to maritime customers both locally and in international waters.