RELIABILITY FOUND FROM THE ACTUAL OPERATING RESULT OF A MARINE COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM (IN "TOTTORI MARI")

Tottori Maru, one of several "super-automated" tankers built in Japan in 1971-72, is a 237,000-dwt steam-turbine ship equipped with a centralized computer system for use in the control of her turbine plant, cargo-oil pumping system, and navigation. This computer installation was intended to prove the usefulness, adaptability, and reliability of such systems before the building of "real super-automation ships". The Author (of NYK, owners of Tottori Maru), writing in Oct. 1975 when the tanker had been in operation for three years, describes the computer installation, examines its operational record in some detail, discusses its maintenance, and makes some suggestions for the future. Considerable troubles were experienced with the computer system. They were overcome with the co-operation of the shipbuilders (Mitsubishi H.I.) and the computer manufacturer (Mitsubishi Electric Corp.). The system is now performing well, and valuable information has been obtained for the future. However, the Author is not entirely satisfied with the system design and operation; such systems should have 100% availability, apart from their scheduled maintenance, and unless they can substantially satisfy this requirement there will be no future for them. The system should be simple and an individually unitized one is more suitable than a centralized one such as that in Tottori Maru. The Author also suggests, inter alia, that reliability of the hardware itself should be improved instead of reverting to back-up devices.

• Corporate Authors:

  Marine Engineering Society in Japan

  Osaka Building, 1-2-2 Uchisaiwai-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku
  Tokyo 100,   Japan 
• Authors:
  • Hamada, I
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 11 p.
• Serial:
  • Marine Engineering Society in Japan, Bulletin of
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Marine Engineering Society in Japan

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Electric power plants; Engine rooms; Reliability; Remote control; Ship pilotage; Voyage management systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Engine room remote control; Power plant automation
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158018
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM