Lloyd’s Register (LR) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its range of advanced data, digital and software solutions by acquiring Brighton-based company Seasafe Marine Software & Computation (Seasafe).
An unexpected incident such as a grounding, a collision or an explosion can result in complex technical challenges, all requiring a fast and effective response.
Seasafe specialises in onboard loading and stability software to help customers manage the stability of vessels and offshore structures, from passenger ships, heavy-lift vessels and FPSOs to semi-submersibles and jack-up rigs.
LR’s ship emergency response service (SERS), which provides emergency preparedness and response to clients worldwide to help make the right decisions and reduce risks to human life, the environment and client assets, uses Seasafe’s state-of-the-art software for vessel modelling and calculations.
The software enables SERS’ dedicated team of naval architects and specialists to be ready to respond quickly and effectively to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Seasafe’s software solutions are used by a large range of clients such as shipyards, consultancies, government, regulatory bodies, classification societies, educational establishments, shipping companies and operators for naval architectural calculations.
Seasafe will relocate to LR’s Southampton Global Technology Centre to sit alongside the SERS team.
LR Marine & Offshore global head of data, digital and software Gwynne Lewis said: “Our vision for Seasafe is to be the preferred partner for Naval Architecture software to the marine industry by providing the best technical and cost-effective solution to our customers.”
SEASAFE Professional is a fully-integrated CAD-type graphics-driven package for 3D modelling and naval architectural calculations.
The SEASAFE Professional system focuses on rapid development of the 3D vessel model, which is suitable for running the necessary calculations for the production of related T&S Booklets and Marine Operations Manuals.
SEASAFE-Onboard is a user-friendly graphics-oriented Windows application, which performs all statutory required calculations on-board and has a rich variety of features from specialised loading operations to advanced intact and damage stability calculations.
In both products, the layout, contents and format of tables, diagrams and reports are user-friendly; Seasafe also provides customised versions to meet clients’ specific needs, allowing the end-user to fully focus on the job in hand.
Importantly, existing models from other software can easily be imported into Seasafe using industry standard file formats.
The acquisition of Seasafe will also provide state-of-the-art software to enable LR clients to comply with the new legislation requiring Type 3 loading instruments that came into force on 1 January 2016, requiring all tankers to comply at the first renewal survey, or latest 1 January 2021 for tankers and 1 July 2021 for Gas carriers.
Seasafe is the successor to SIKOB, the pioneering naval architecture software developed in the 1960’s, which is still used by shipyards around the world.
LR has been a user of SIKOB since it was introduced to the market and has closely collaborated in the development of its successor, Seasafe, which implemented a user friendly 3D-graphics-driven interface, completely rewritten in modern code.
The acquisition of Seasafe is the latest investment by LR to drive data, digital and software solutions for clients.
In June 2016, LR announced its collaboration with Silicon Valley-based greenfence; the first platform technology serving the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) marketplace, and recently announced the acquisition of RTAMO Ltd, a software enabled consultancy based in Aberdeen, which provides cutting edge data-driven solutions designed to reduce maintenance costs for asset owners.
LR chief technology officer Nial McCollam said: “This is another important step in building global software solutions that create value for our customers.
“We’re bringing together all of LR’s existing commercial software activities to provide a suite of integrated solutions.
“Our global technology and innovation team is also developing a range of innovative data and digital solutions such as remote presence inspections, cyber-security, additive manufacturing and asset lifecycle management, harnessing and developing the capabilities within our Global Technology Centres in Singapore and Southampton.”