Millions of dollars of boating assets are at risk of being damaged in charter operations globally on a daily basis.
Whether the damage is caused by inexperienced clients, adverse weather conditions or lack of preventive maintenance is irrelevant.
What matters is that, to a large extent, it is avoidable.
A yacht out of action or an upset client at best costs the operator money and reputation. A sailor in distress could have a far more devastating effect on the industry.
Every effort should be made to provide the clients with a safe and seaworthy vessel in perfect working order.
Furthermore, information as to the safe and effective operation of the chartered vessel in the authorized region is of equal importance and in my opinion forms part of the operator’s duty of care.
Change in customer demographics …
Experience and ‘seamanship’ have traditionally been able to avert disaster to a large extent, but unfortunately not everyone has the privilege of such experience.
Furthermore, the easy access to charter yachts and changing spending habits have attracted more and more people from all walks of life to take part in a cruising holiday … not all of them being of the experienced type as in previous years.
Charter clients may not be as confident or experienced as they would like to think they are.
An unfamiliar brand of yacht in unfamiliar waters, where local weather phenomena provide different challenges to what the ‘skipper’ might be used to from last year’s charter, can quickly lead to the client being overloaded.
This potential risk to personal and equipment can easily be avoided if the appropriate information is provided to all involved.
Technology can fill a certain gap ...
We are now able to share relevant, real-time information instantly.
This will allow us to make appropriate preparations for upcoming repairs or divert to a safe anchorage.
It’s like getting help without having to ask for help when you are about to need help.
What information is relevant …
Looking at the airline, and to an extend the commercial shipping industry, proactive system and environmental monitoring is a key factor to a safe and efficient operation.
Immediate access to operational system’s status is crucial to the safety of the operation. It reduces turnaround times and streamlines maintenance.
Clear records of what happened, when it happened and how it happened allows for follow-up analysis of critical events and helps alleviate conflict at return to base.
I have asked operators, yacht owners and charters what information they feel would be valuable to them and found that there are distinct differences in what is perceived as ‘valuable’ to each interest group:
Charters seem more concerned with immediate environmental information that helps them have a smooth and uneventful holiday:
#1 push notification on weather conditions
#2 anchor alarm when ashore
#3 sail reefing alert
#4 trip record
Boat owners are more concerned with how their yacht are treated by others. Interestingly, both owners and charters shared a number of readings as being valuable:
#1 Grounding
#2 Amount of sail selected for given weather conditions
#3 Engine RPM – too high for too long
#4 Dragging anchor
#5 Status of batteries
#6 Actual engine and generator hours
#7 Boat position and track
# others: bilge pumps status, intruder / security alert
Operators, like owners, were mainly concerned with the boat’s location:
#1 Grounding
#2 Location / Restricted zone entry
#3 Status of Fuel, Oil, Waste and Freshwater quantities
#4 Blocked aircon / Genset waterpumps
#5 Oil consumption
I was surprised however by the low response to system monitoring requirements such as fresh and black water tank as well as fuel and oil levels by charter operators.
Knowing in what state a yacht returns to the dock reduces turnaround time and assists with preventative maintenance.
Apart from collecting valuable trend data, surely there are dollars to be saved in the long run.
Perceived challenges …
System communications, complexity as well as maintenance and operating cost were the main concerns.
Personally, I find it easier to learn Farsi then understanding network protocols. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree here.
Things need to be bullet proof. Based on experience, I would feel more comfortable with a hardwired or a dedicated coms network that doesn’t rely on external WiFi to communicate with itself, others or the outside.
As Jay from CYOA Yacht Charters pointed out in a recent conversation: ‘Technology is a double-edged sword. I just spent four months fixing a boat that got hit by lightning. It had the Fountaine System. Repairing it is beyond the skill set of most charter company technicians. The czone/mastervolt hardware is very adaptive but requires some time to learn’.
Certain operators may be concerned that due to connectivity issues in remoter areas, crucial information may not to be transmitted when needed, leaving them open to litigation. But any information at some point has to be better than none.
I also believe that temporary, external coms disruption could be overcome by augmenting the system with live, on-board feedback, providing information such as maximum amount of sail plane set for the current wind conditions or anchor alerts.
Where from here …
Technology is here to stay. It will get smarter and used appropriately, it will add value to any operation. Like with all things new (and not properly understood), some are quicker to adapt than others. Those who adapt early will operate more efficiently and have the long-term advantage.
The immediate benefits for all parties involved are clear. Every time a conflict can be avoided is a win-win situation for both client, owner and the operator. An informed client is safer than an ignorant one and a transparent operation leaves no room for mistrust.
Fact is, it takes 5 times as many advertising dollars and effort to win a new client as it takes to keep an existing one. So why would you not do everything in your power to provide your clients with the best service and holiday experience possible?
Finally, it begs the question that if the technology is available to provide the client with potentially lifesaving information and an operator chooses not to make use of such systems, will an operator be potentially liable for lack of duty of care?
A very balanced and well thought out article Nils. Top job!
Thanks Ken. Appreciate your feedback.
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