Keep the ship in condition, not in crisis

Technical ship management is the care of the vessel as a physical asset. It covers planned maintenance, repairs, spare parts, surveys, dry-docking, inspections and liaison with class and flag administrations, with the aim of keeping the ship safe, seaworthy and compliant at the lowest sensible lifecycle cost.

A planned maintenance system is a structured schedule that tells the crew and shore team which equipment must be inspected, serviced or overhauled, and when. It is driven by running hours or calendar intervals, records completed work, and helps prevent breakdowns by catching wear before it becomes failure.

Dry-docking supervision involves preparing the work specification, obtaining and comparing yard quotations, attending the vessel during the docking, checking that work is done to specification and agreed standard, controlling variations and closing out documentation. It protects the owner's budget, schedule and the quality of hull and machinery work.

Spares and stores are managed through a defined list of critical and routine items, minimum stock levels and an approval process for requisitions. Good control balances having the right part on board when needed against tying up money in stock, and it keeps purchasing traceable for the owner.

Class and flag liaison means handling communication with the classification society and the flag administration on surveys, certificates, conditions of class and statutory requirements. A manager tracks due dates, prepares the vessel and paperwork, and follows up findings so that certificates stay valid and nothing falls overdue.

Technical management helps by keeping equipment in good order, records up to date and defects closed out before an inspector arrives. Pre-inspection checks, mock walk-rounds and corrective action tracking turn inspection readiness into a routine habit rather than a last-minute scramble.