Orca Subsea’s ‘Mobilisation Manager’ app offers real-time updates on project mobilisations, which can be sent directly to a computer, tablet or phone. Users can access the app via Orca’s secure website and any iOS device.

The company, which offers support and engineering services to the subsea industry, works with their clients to identify individual pieces of equipment for a project. Each individual item is then tagged using radio frequency identification (RFID), allowing multiple users to monitor the status of the item and its location in real time, from the supplier’s yard to the quayside.

Greig Masson, Orca’s Supply Chain and Logistics Manager, explains: “Checking if all the required equipment has arrived at site normally requires a visual inspection and checking the items off a manifest. By utilizing RFID technology, Orca’s management applications can scan an area up to 200 metres and return a list of all equipment within that range in less than 30 seconds. This allows live tracking of all equipment during the mobilisation with use of the interactive deck plan and project summary.”

Once the item has been scanned and uploaded the back deck function enables the user to access interactive and high resolution drawings, deck overviews, equipment layouts, plus all other associated documentation for each individual item, such as certification packs, procedures and operation manuals. Statuses are colour coded and can be changed at a finger swipe, giving instant feedback on the progress of the mobilisation. This means preventative and restorative action can be taken much sooner than would be possible using traditional methods.

Mr Masson adds: “Through Orca’s extensive experience in project mobilisations, we noticed the same failures were often highlighted. Daily reports are often only compiled and communicated to project managers, department heads and directors long after an event has taken place. The dreaded late-night email or phone call asking for advice or permission to proceed with a course of action without fully knowing the current status is something every project manager is familiar with.”