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Description
Scortel Ltd., headquartered in Sofia with regional offices in Burgas and Varna, is a market leader in maritime solutions in Bulgaria. Specializing in Vessels Monitoring Systems (VMS) and Maritime Information Systems (MIS), Scortel operates under NACE code 62.09, offering IT services, equipment supply, system integration, and consulting for satellite communications, GPS tracking, mobile video surveillance, and automated information systems for land and maritime businesses. The company, led by Mr. Stefan Bashalov, has established a strong market presence locally and internationally, delivering quality solutions to private clients and public authorities.
Recognizing a common challenge among local vessel operators in the Black Sea region—particularly outdated practices leading to high fuel consumption—Scortel proposes the i2VMS technological solution. Targeting vessels between 10 and 50 meters, this set of hardware and software aims to optimize speed selection, implement effective fuel-saving measures, and automate data collection and transmission. The i2VMS installation is estimated to save approximately 900 liters of diesel per vessel annually, providing significant cost savings for operators.
With prior experience in delivering VMS and MIS for Bulgaria, Scortel, with Norwegian partner FourC AS, plans to develop i2VMS from TRL 6 to TRL 8 and beyond. This project not only addresses a common issue in the Black Sea countries but also marks an important step for FourC AS''s entrance into the maritime solutions niche.
The technological collaboration between Scortel Ltd. (Bulgaria) and FourC AS (Norway) under this project yields innovative products for Scortel and advances the application of cloud monitoring technology for FourC, establishing a promising foundation for long-term cooperation and market expansion for both companies.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to tackle several key issues and challenges associated with the operation of small ships and motorboats at sea, primarily targeting fuel consumption and operational inefficiencies.
1. Optimizing Fuel Usage: One major challenge was the high fuel consumption during various phases of vessel operation, including transitions between ports and fishing areas. The project sought solutions to optimize movement and reduce fuel usage by adjusting speeds appropriately.
2. Minimizing Idle Time Risks: Another issue was the practice of shutting down engines during production operations or periods of low activity, which posed safety risks. The project aimed to create systems that could keep the vessels functional without relying on continuously running engines.
3. Improving Reporting Efficiency: Vessels often needed to maintain electronic instruments operational for mandatory production reporting, even when docked at ports. This typically required running the vessel''s engines, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions. The project aimed to streamline this process through better energy solutions.
4. Environmental Impact: A critical challenge was reducing the environmental footprint of these vessels. The project aimed to incorporate renewable energy sources to power on-board electronics, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions and fuel dependency.
By addressing these issues, the project hoped to contribute to significant operational cost savings for vessel operators and enhance environmental sustainability.
The project undertaken by Scortel Ltd. focused on developing and introducing a set of technological solutions called i2VMS (Integrated innovative VMS for boats and small ships) to the market. The main activities and outputs of the project included:
Activities:
Purchase of Equipment and Software:
- Acquired new VMS software development and operations platform.
- Purchased Autonomous Smart Power Supply (ASPS) testing and production platform.
- Procured Ship State Control Block (SSCB) and Operations and Environmental Control Block (OECB) testing and production platforms.
Internal R&D Activities:
- Developed new designs for ASPS, SSCB, and OECB.
- Conducted prototype development and testing for these components.
Technology and Know-How Transfer:
- Collaborated with the Norwegian company FourC AS to integrate their Groovy M2M Cloud System technology for remote process monitoring and control.
Outputs:
Development of Five New Products:
- Autonomous Smart Power Supply (ASPS)
- Ship State Control Block (SSCB)
- Operations and Environmental Control Block (OECB)
- Annual subscription for technical monitoring and Electronic Reporting System (ERS) communication of single vessel.
- Annual subscription for complete vessel operational monitoring and assistance to ship management, including ERS communication.
Commercialization of Five New Products:
- Successfully introduced the i2VMS set of technologies to the market.
Utility Model Registration:
- Registered a utility model for the new products developed.
Purchase of Four Hardware and Software Platforms:
- Acquired platforms to be used for development activities and subsequent market realization of the i2VMS technological solutions.
The project aimed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for small ships and motor boats, contributing to environmental sustainability and operational cost savings for vessel operators.
The result of the project is a working prototype of a new integrated innovative vessel monitoring system i2VMS, which contains the following products/services and provides the implementation of a new business model:
Product 1. Autonomous Smart Power Supply (ASPS)
Product 2. Ship State Control Block (SSCB)
Product 3. Operations and Environmental Control Block (OECB)
Product/Service 4. Annual subscription for technical control and electronic data reporting for a single vessel
Product/Service 5. Annual subscription for full operational monitoring and electronic data reporting for a single vessel or fleet of vessels
Outcomes and Impacts:
Increased Competitiveness:
- Scortel Ltd.: The project significantly boosted the company''s competitiveness by developing and commercializing innovative maritime solutions. This led to an annual growth in turnover and a net operational profit increase over four years post-implementation.
Environmental Benefits:
- Vessel Operators: The i2VMS solutions helped reduce fuel consumption by approximately 900 litres of diesel per vessel annually, leading to a decrease in CO2 emissions by 689,040 kg for 290 vessels. This not only cut operational costs but also contributed to environmental sustainability.
Job Creation:
- Local Workforce: The project created three new green jobs for highly qualified experts with engineering backgrounds, contributing to local employment and skill development.
Technological Advancements:
- Maritime Industry: The introduction of i2VMS provided advanced technological solutions for the maritime sector, including autonomous smart power supply, ship state control, and operations and environmental control blocks. These innovations improved the efficiency and safety of small ships and motor boats.
Enhanced Business Cooperation:
- The partnership with the Norwegian partner FourC AS facilitated technology and know-how transfer, enhancing the capabilities of both companies. This collaboration also opened new market opportunities for FourC AS in the maritime sector.
Beneficiaries:
- Scortel Ltd.: Benefited from increased competitiveness, revenue growth, and enhanced technological capabilities.
- Vessel Operators: Gained access to innovative solutions that reduced fuel consumption and operational costs while improving safety.
- Local Workforce: Benefited from new job opportunities and skill development in the engineering and maritime sectors.
- Maritime Industry: Experienced technological advancements and improved operational efficiency through the new i2VMS solutions.
- Environment: Benefited from reduced CO2 emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Overall, the project had a positive impact on Scortel Ltd., vessel operators, the local workforce, the maritime industry, and the environment.
Summary of bilateral results
The Project Partner - FourC AS provided technology and know-how to support the Promoter to create a prototype of the i2VMS operating environment based on its own FourC Groovy M2M Cloud System platform. This included preparing and adapting the platform towards supporting the concept and architecture of the i2VMS. For developing i2VMS as a cloud system, the Partner provided technical expertise on how to connect i2VMS distributed devices for management, surveillance, application maintenance and other features in general. In addition, the Partner provided the technical framework and the cloud access needed for i2VMS distributed devices to connect to it, similarly as with FourC Groovy M2M Device Platform devices. This thin framework layer provides feature support on the device and communicates with the cloud i2VMS system.