Nine more state-of-the-art pilot vessels destined for British ports enhanced by AST’s iRAMS tech

Nine more state-of-the-art pilot vessels destined for British ports enhanced by AST’s iRAMS tech


AST has announced a new order of 9 iRAMS systems with a long-term client and UK boat-builder, Goodchild Marine Services Limited.

The Norfolk boat-builder, which has been in business for more than 40 years, has been building the ORC range of modern, fuel-efficient pilot boats since 2012, and in service at ports throughout the UK and Ireland.

In a new deal worth a reported £9 million, Goodchild Marine Services will supply 9 ORC fast pilot vessels inclusive of engine telemetry, into British ports from a design by French naval architects Pantocarene.

With iRAMS installed, engineering and operational teams can read engine data remotely, 24 hours a day. Near real-time performance metrics will allow boat operators, shoreside to view engine parameters, receive email alerts, and compare fleet vessels against each other enabling more efficient vessel maintenance and management. Access to the engine data empowers customers to carry out preventative maintenance and spot issues early.

With iRAMS installed, customers can view a vessel’s journey in real-time. Operational teams can set up geo-fences and be notified when a vessel enters or exits the port. Recent and historic reports can be downloaded, easily and all this information is available via an online iRAMS portal.

The easy-to-use portal allows users to view and share engine data in a host of different ways, including the monitoring of engine data points including temperature, pressure, boost, CO² levels, fuel consumption, and more.

AST Marine Sciences, MD, David Davies said: “Port authorities invest millions into pilot vessels and pilot service operations. iRAMS enhances these services and reduces operational risk by harnessing accurate engine vessel data. With this data in hand, businesses can make intelligent decisions about how vessels are operated and maintained and ultimately, save time and money.”

For more information visit theastgroup.com

22nd March 2021