Trusted by more than 3,000 ships worldwide, NAPA’s Safety Solution software has promoted ship safety and operational efficiency for 35 years, working closely with customers.
NAPA's solutions aim to positively impact the maritime industry by simplifying and streamlining onboard and shoreside operations through digitalisation, reducing errors and workload for seafarers, enhancing safety, and enabling more sustainable decision-making.
Paper-based system challenges
“Historically, the maritime market has relied heavily on paperwork for various processes, including log-keeping, work permits, and regulatory reporting,” says Tommi Vihavainen, NAPA's Director of Development at Safety Solutions.
“This reliance on paper-based systems led to numerous challenges, such as time-consuming administrative tasks, increased risk of errors, difficulty in data aggregation and sharing, and limited visibility for shoreside teams.”
Software and data services
NAPA's software for ship design is used by over 90% of new vessels built by NAPA's customers
NAPA provides software and data services for ship design and operations to enable a safer, more sustainable, and future-proof maritime industry.
NAPA's software for ship design is used by over 90% of new vessels built by NAPA's customers and is considered the global de facto standard in shipbuilding.
NAPA's product line
On the ship operations side, NAPA's product line includes NAPA Stability next-gen loading computer; NAPA Emergency Computer to provide clarity on ship vulnerability in critical moments; NAPA Permit to Work, which digitalises work permits and approval; and NAPA Fleet Intelligence, a cloud-based platform to enable shoreside teams to handle fleet safety, compliance, and optimisation.
NAPA Logbook (along with the NAPA Status Board and Checklists) helps make electronic record-keeping, reporting, and compliance easy and error-free.
Digitisation
“Digitisation has transformed the management of information and data onboard vessels by automating tasks, standardising formats, and enabling real-time data sharing between ship and shore,” adds Vihavainen.
“This has led to significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and compliance.”
Efficiency, safety, and compliance
Cloud-based platforms enable centralised data collection, allowing shoreside teams to monitor vessel operations
For example, electronic logbooks automate data entry, reduce errors, and facilitate easy regulatory compliance. Digital work permit systems streamline approval processes, enhance communication, and provide real-time visibility into ongoing work, improving safety and inter-department coordination.
Cloud-based platforms enable centralised data collection, allowing shoreside teams to monitor vessel operations and performance, identify trends, and make informed decisions for optimised operations.
Proactive approach to safety at sea
Digital ship stability systems, like NAPA Stability, can enable a proactive approach to safety at sea by providing real-time monitoring and analysis of a ship's stability parameters – for both intact and damaged stability.
They integrate with a 3D model of the ship, known as a digital twin, which is based on data and models used during the ship design process. “These systems continuously monitor stability data, such as the vessel's metacentric height, and provide alerts if any IMO-set stability and loading criteria are unmet,” says Vihavainen.
Real-time awareness
“This real-time awareness allows for early detection of potential risks and facilitates timely corrective actions to maintain stability and ship safety in all conditions."
Additionally, these systems can simulate different scenarios and provide decision support to the crew and shoreside teams in case of emergencies, such as grounding or damage to the hull, allowing for a more informed and proactive response.
Cloud-based monitoring unlocks
By analysing this data, shoreside teams can identify trends, benchmark performance, and make decisions
Cloud-based performance monitoring solutions can unlock new operational efficiencies in the maritime market by providing insights in real-time, as well as collecting historical data for later analysis. NAPA’s onboard solutions, for example, can collect data from various sources, like all logbook data, such as a deck, navigational data, stability data, engine management systems, HVAC, tank data, waste, and water management, as well as other relevant onboard sensors.
By analysing this data, shoreside teams can identify trends, benchmark performance, and make data-driven decisions to optimise various aspects of operations, including fuel efficiency, waste and water management, engine performance, and so on.
Operational efficiency
“The cloud-based nature of these systems enables seamless data sharing and collaboration between shipboard and shoreside teams, facilitating real-time monitoring, communication, and support,” says Vihavainen.
“This accessibility to data and insights allows for more informed decision-making, proactive rectifications in operational practices, maintenance, and continuous improvement in operational efficiency.”
Supporting shipping’s transition to decarbonisation
The global maritime industry, and seafarers in particular, are grappling with new ways of working to support shipping’s decarbonisation transition.
A recent survey by the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) revealed that 54% of seafarers reported an increase in their workloads, 44% said they are feeling higher levels of stress, and 33% fear potential criminalisation due to complex reporting requirements.
NAPA Logbook
By enabling data to be exchanged between systems, teams can enhance situational awareness
Digital, integrated solutions like NAPA Logbook, through NAPA Fleet Intelligence, allow teams to tackle these issues by doubling down on automation, thereby minimising errors saving time, and offering a holistic approach to data management, operational safety, and efficiency.
By enabling data to be exchanged between systems, teams can enhance situational awareness and make better-informed decisions on critical operational matters and regulatory compliance, with greater speed and accuracy, as the platform also gives a centralised data overview.
Benefits
Vihavainen says centralised data collection through platforms also benefits operations by:
- Providing a holistic view of fleet operations: 24x7 monitoring and real-time situational awareness at a granular level - per ship, per voyage, per leg. This comprehensive overview allows for better decision-making regarding safety, efficiency, and compliance.
- Facilitating data-driven insights: By analysing the collected data, operators can identify trends, benchmark performance, and implement strategies for continuous improvement.
- Enabling better support from the shoreside without the need for additional communications.
- Optimised Voyage Planning: By combining real-time weather data with historical performance data, operators can plan more efficient and safer routes, especially for cruise customers during the hurricane season, for instance.
- Predictive Maintenance: Analysing data from various onboard systems can help predict potential equipment failures, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.
Improving record keeping and promoting safety
NAPA Logbook is an electronic logbook solution that aims to improve record keeping, simply shipboard admin work, and promote safety onboard vessels. It is approved by over 20 major flag states and DNV and ClassNK, and it is trusted by over 12,000 users globally.
NAPA Logbook improves record-keeping and compliance by:
- Automating data entry, reducing seafarer workload: The system automatically fills in data for log entries, reducing the administrative burden on the crew.
- Standardising formats, reducing chances of mistakes: NAPA Logbook ensures that all log entries adhere to the required formats, minimising errors, and inconsistencies.
- Simplifying reporting: The system facilitates the easy generation of reports for various regulatory requirements, such as EU-MRV, MARPOL, ESG, and CII.
Logbook integration
For instance, with the new voyage reporting functionality, the NAPA Logbook reduces the administrative burden of regulatory compliance and covers the monitoring systems EU-MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification), and the IMO-DCS (Data Collection System).
The digital platform enables the integration of logbooks with regulatory reporting; data is automatically shared with shoreside teams, via NAPA Fleet Intelligence, as well as with the verifier, in this case, DNV Emission Connect, in near real-time.
End-to-end compliance
The platform goes beyond normal electronic logbook systems and can submit data for verification to DNV
The platform goes beyond normal electronic logbook systems and can submit data for verification to DNV, as well as other relevant stakeholders in the supply and emissions chain, in a format that meets all requirements.
This provides end-to-end compliance support, removes duplication of work, and offers invaluable time savings for the crew which would otherwise not be possible.
14% reduction
Here is a case example: Anthony Veder, a gas shipping company that implemented the NAPA Logbook in 2023 reports that it has already cut 2000 administrative hours per vessel – a 14% reduction. This time savings is not only from automated entry but also from automated reporting. With the initial success of NAPA Logbook across Anthony Veder’s fleet, the company is ramping up digitalisation to ease seafarer workload, boost morale, and reduce the margin for error.
Digital tools can help reduce the administrative workload onboard and contribute to the accuracy of reporting, which is becoming increasingly important with regulations like the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.
Replacing paper-based work permitting
NAPA Permit to Work is a digital system that replaces the traditional paper-based work permit process for hazardous tasks onboard.
NAPA Permit to Work has been developed through close collaboration with customers, such as Carnival Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages, to ensure it meets their specific needs and safety management system guidelines. The system allows for customisation according to each operator's unique processes.
Miscommunication to mishaps
Hazardous tasks are managed through a mase of manual checklists and paperwork prone to delays
Traditionally, hazardous tasks are managed through a mase of manual checklists and paperwork prone to delays, oversight, and miscommunication – leading to mishaps.
According to data from InterManager, 55% of accidents in the past 28 years have happened during planned work, with many incidents concentrated in high-risk areas like oil tanks and holds.
Permit-to-work process
Digitising the permit-to-work process can dramatically reduce the chances of human error, potentially preventing accidents before they occur. Apart from increasing efficiency, these digital permits also help ensure every step of the process is completed correctly and provide real-time visibility of high-risk tasks for both crews onboard and shoreside teams.
This is especially important for newer seafarers, many of whom have joined the industry after the pandemic. They offer critical support for those still gaining experience, reducing the risk of accidents.
Additionally, digitalising the process results in:
- Streamlined work process: The digital system eliminates the need for physical forms and signatures, saving time and reducing administrative burden.
- Comprehensive digital safeguards: The system acts as a checklist, ensuring that all necessary safety checks are completed before the start of any job.
- Enhanced communication and coordination: The system automatically notifies relevant departments and personnel with real-time status updates of ongoing work, improving coordination and transparency.
- Real-time monitoring and visibility: Both shipboard and shoreside teams have real-time visibility into ongoing work, enabling proactive safety management and faster response in case of issues.
Benefits for shoreside teams
NAPA Permit to Work provides shoreside teams with better fleet-wide visibility of ongoing work and conditions, enabling a proactive approach to safety and maintenance.
This real-time data transparency allows for more efficient resource allocation, improved coordination of maintenance activities, and faster response to potential issues, ultimately leading to enhanced operational efficiency and reduced downtime.
Comprehensive digital checklist
NAPA Permit to Work will act as a comprehensive digital checklist
The influx of new seafarers with limited experience post-pandemic presents challenges for the maritime industry. These challenges include increased workloads, higher stress levels, and potential safety risks due to unfamiliarity with complex tasks and procedures.
Here, the NAPA Permit to Work will act as a comprehensive digital checklist to help seafarers ensure that no safety-critical steps are missed.
Virtual guide and augments
The system is designed so that no digital form is accepted unless all required safety checks are completed before the start of any job, significantly reducing the risk of oversight.
Post-COVID, a large proportion of crew working aboard cruise ships are on their first contract with little at-sea experience. This functionality provides a virtual guide and augments previous training, eases handovers, and minimises the margin for error.
Safety and efficiency
As the maritime industry shifts toward a future marked by multi-fuel technologies and stringent environmental regulations, the operational demands placed on crews will only increase. But within this growing complexity lies an opportunity to rethink approaches to safety and efficiency.
“Rather than overwhelming seafarers with more screens and systems, we need to harness digital tools and data in ways that simplify—not complicate—their work environments,” says Vihavainen.
Expanding capabilities of digital tools
When harnessed properly, it can lead to much bigger and newer areas of operational efficiency
It is a misconception that solutions like NAPA Logbook and NAPA Stability only help with ship safety, data recording, and compliance. With cloud technology, the power of these digital tools extends far beyond their traditional roles, unlocking vast amounts of previously untapped data—up to 90% of ship data typically remains onboard, unutilised.
This data spans everything from engine performance, and HVAC to waste, water, and tank management. When harnessed properly, it can lead to much bigger and newer areas of operational efficiency than achievable today.
Real-time data sharing
“By automating the collection and analysis of this data in real-time, and sharing it with shoreside teams, we also enable better ship-and-shore collaboration,” says Vihavainen.
“As the complexity of modern maritime operations grows, cloud connectivity has become a critical tool in bridging the gap between onboard crews and shoreside teams.”
Proactive voyage monitoring
By allowing real-time communication and data sharing, shoreside teams can provide invaluable support in areas ranging from stability management and emergency response to proactive voyage monitoring and machinery issue resolution. “This level of collaboration is reshaping how we approach safety and efficiency at sea,” says Vihavainen.
“These advances are more than just technological upgrades—they are transforming the relationship between seafarers and their shoreside colleagues.”
