Ship and Harbor

Background

Marine vessels and shipbuilding facilities rely heavily on rotating machinery such as ventilation fans, seawater pumps, fuel pumps, compressors, and propulsion-related auxiliary equipment. These machines operate under harsh conditions including vibration from waves, salt-air corrosion, high humidity, and continuous loading during long voyages.

Mechanical deterioration—such as unbalance, bearing wear, misalignment, or cavitation—can rapidly escalate into failures that compromise vessel reliability and safety.
Predictive maintenance is essential for preventing unexpected equipment downtime and avoiding costly delays or emergency repairs at sea.

Diagnosis Process

Novaseer’s predictive maintenance platform applies a standardized diagnostic workflow suitable for all rotating equipment used in marine environments:

Trend Monitoring

The system detected abnormal vibration or temperature increases during operation, especially under varying sea conditions or load transitions.

Waveform Evaluation

Time-domain waveform signatures showed disturbances, impacts, or modulation patterns commonly associated with:

• Bearing wear accelerated by salt and moisture
• Misalignment due to hull vibration
• Impeller fouling or marine growth in seawater systems
• Cavitation (for pumps)

Spectrum Analysis

Frequency-domain analysis identified key mechanical issues through:

• High rotating-frequency amplitudes (unbalance)
• Sidebands and harmonics (looseness or misalignment)
• Bearing characteristic frequencies (early fatigue)
• Cavitation-related broadband noise (for seawater pumps)

Based on combined evidence, the system issued an early diagnostic warning and recommended inspection.

On-Site Inspection & Maintenance

Technicians typically observed the following issues during inspection:

• Build-up or marine growth on pump impellers

• Loosened base bolts due to continuous vibration

• Misalignment caused by hull movement or thermal expansion

• Early bearing wear accelerated by saltwater exposure

• Reduced lubrication performance in humid environments

Corrective actions usually included cleaning, rebalancing, tightening, realignment, lubrication renewal, and component replacement if necessary.

Before & After Comparison

Condition	Before Maintenance	After Maintenance
Vibration Trend	Rising / unstable	Stable, lower vibration
Waveform Shape	Distorted, impacts, modulation	Smooth, consistent pattern
Spectrum	Elevated rotating frequency / harmonics	Reduced amplitude and harmonics

These improvements confirm the mechanical issue was successfully addressed.

ROI — Based on typical marine rotating equipment operations, Novaseer delivers:

• Unplanned downtime avoided: 3–10 hours

Estimated average: ~6 hours

Early detection of abnormal equipment behavior allows plants to shift corrective actions into scheduled maintenance windows, reducing costly production interruptions.

• Maintenance time saved: 1–3 hours

Estimated average: ~2 hours

Technicians can locate failure points more quickly with system-assisted diagnostics, improving repair efficiency and reducing troubleshooting overhead.

• Secondary damage prevented: $4,000–$12,000

Estimated average: ~$8,000

Advanced warnings help avoid cascading failures—such as increased wear on drive components, overheating motors, or misalignment-related losses.

• Total estimated value: $20,000–$70,000+

Estimated average: ~$50,000

For critical assets (e.g., lehr drives, forming equipment, cold-end inspection lines), timely alerts significantly reduce the likelihood of catastrophic failures and extended downtime.

Customer Feedback

Marine operators report smoother machinery operation, fewer alarms, and improved reliability during voyages. Early warnings allow maintenance to be scheduled during port stays instead of performing emergency repairs at sea.

Risk-Free Pilot. Real Outcomes.

We know results speak louder than promises. That’s why we offer a commitment-free pilot:
100 wireless sensors, 100 days of full access, free installation, and unlimited user access to our AI diagnostics platform.

You get to experience the full value of our system — predictive insights, maintenance savings, and operational clarity — without upfront investment.

Your Trial Includes:

Full installation and onboarding support
Full access to AI features, dashboards, and reports
24/7 premium service during the trial period
Clear ROI validation by the end of the pilot

Join Our Free Trial Program