European carrier Containerships implements EquipmentRepair from International Asset Systems (IAS) to manage its maintenance and repairs
February 14, 2011
European carrier Containerships has implemented EquipmentRepair
from International Asset Systems (IAS) to manage its entire maintenance and repair program.
The Helsinki-based carrier provides door-to-door services linking Finland, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, Western Europe, Mediterranean and most recently North Africa, with a box fleet of around 20,000 TEU.
Under the 3-year deal, the Containerships Group will utilise the IAS web-based software and communications platform to track and control container M&R and gate in/out events across a network of more than 25 depots.
Business at Containerships has expanded considerably over the last three years, including the 2009 acquisition of Contaz Maritime & Trade S.A, a specialist in the north Europe, Mediterranean and North African trades.
“With our container fleet doubling in size as a result of organic growth and an acquisition, we needed to streamline our M&R processes,” says Containerships Container Fleet Manager Tomi Invenius.
“IAS offers a fast and proven route to implement a comprehensive M&R control system and automates communications and data flow with our depots.”
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AS EquipmentRepair is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that facilitates the container M&R approval process, allowing equipment owners to automate depot communications, track, control and reduce M&R costs and increase productivity and efficiency.
Released last year as a major upgrade, EquipmentRepair 3 delivers improved data accuracy and process management.
It is one of the most widely-used M&R application in the industry.
In the demanding short sea trades, where containers may incur depot activity up to five times a year, keeping firm track on repairs and gate events plays an important role in controlling equipment costs and availability.
“The IAS system allows us to capture all of our M&R data on a single database accessed by users based in various Containerships offices,” Invenius says.
“It provides good visibility and instant statistics to help us manage our fleet proactively.”
Invenius says the new system allows Containerships to analyse details and trends, including specific repair issues by batch of containers, and establish where it might be spending more money on repairs with a particular container type or design.
This information can be used to identify improvements to the company’s container designs that will reduce future repair costs.
“Automation of the M&R process has made communications easier and freed up management time,” Invenius says.
As repair authorisations are more rapid, Containerships also expects to improve container turnaround time and boost fleet utilisation.
“We are very pleased to have entered into a long-term relationship with Containerships and couldn’t be happier with how the launch went,” Invenius says.
IAS General Manager, EMEA Douglas Owen says the team at Containerships were live and managing M&R activity within 16 days of kick-off.
“With the signing of Containerships we have another great example of a carrier which has closely evaluated the build-versus-buy equation and concluded that IAS provides the most complete, easily deployed and integration-ready M&R solution available today,” Owen says.