An Aberdeen-based IT support company has consolidated its position as a market leader in the subsea sector, thanks to the award of a four-year contract.

TechnipFMC is the latest subsea client to employ Solab IT Services’ crew management software Onboard Tracker™. Through the new streamlined system, TechnipFMC can make best use of processes and create a single point of storage for data to maximise crew planning, scheduling and training management for offshore personnel.

The move sees TechnipFMC join the ranks of Onboard Tracker™ clients including Subsea 7, Boskalis and Semco Maritime all of whom use the online hub to manage personnel logistics and planning, crew rotations, training, certification and competence.

Onboard Tracker™ is a modular, web-based Software as a Service (SaaS) platform which manages the safe and efficient crewing of tens of thousands of energy and maritime personnel across the globe.  The technology is a leading light in the North East’s Digital Workforce initiatives and keeps tens of thousands of energy workers trained, competent and safe on over 70% of the manned rigs in the UKCS, and in over 70 countries worldwide.

Exponential growth means that the subsea sector now accounts for almost half of the company’s clients.  Additionally, the rise in uptake has resulted in the system now being used to manage almost one third of subsea marine vessels in the UKCS – a figure which is expected to show a further marked increase during the rest of this year and beyond.

To reflect growing uptake in the market, a number of subsea and marine-focussed improvements have been incorporated into Onboard Tracker™ to enable clients to manage key operations such as saturation diving time, lieu management, leave liquidation and minimum manning levels to track resource gaps, and plan and forecast future personnel issues.

Commenting on the ongoing success of the system, Solab IT Services Managing Director Kevin Coll said: “Onboard Tracker™ has seen a substantial increase in subsea and marine clients in the last two years with 45% of our clients now operating in the subsea sector.

“We have noticed an undercurrent of change during that time as subsea organisations prioritise the use of digital technology to transform the way they operate, clearly demonstrating that Onboard Tracker™ fully aligns with a breadth of clients across the industry.”

Tanya Urquhart, Solab IT Services’ Implementation Manager for the TechnipFMC contract, was instrumental in ensuring the move to Onboard Tracker™.  She added: “TechnipFMC made the switch from a number of different systems to our enhanced operating system.

“The technology is now supporting TechnipFMC’s fleet operations globally and we are delighted that their team has fully embraced the technology.  They are now experiencing the benefits a digitally connected system brings to their vessel operations – dashboard and reporting options gives each user a personalised experience as well as tailoring it for their own function within the business along with Power BI reporting and technology.”

She added: “One of the many benefits of Onboard Tracker™ is that the software is continually evolving, and we keep our clients up-to-date with new functionality options every step of the way.  By harnessing subsea and technological expertise, we will continue to develop the integrated platform in step with the dynamic needs of the subsea and wider energy industry.”

For more information on Solab and Onboard Tracker, visit: www.solab.co.uk/onboard-tracker