ShipSmith Blog
Field notes, technical deep-dives and industry perspective on ship repair, retrofit, marine surveys, spares supply and maritime AI.
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Diagnosing a Midnight Engine Alarm with AI
How a duty engineer alone on UMS watch can move from a flashing alarm to a structured diagnosis in seconds, using a maritime AI assistant grounded in the vessel's own manuals.
- AI
- engine room
- fault diagnosis
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Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Explained: What Owners Should Expect from a UTM Campaign
A clear, practical explanation of how ultrasonic thickness measurement works, what a credible UTM survey covers, and how owners can use gauging data to plan steel renewals and satisfy class.
- ultrasonic thickness measurement
- UTM
- class survey
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Genuine, OEM-Equivalent or Reconditioned? A Buyer's Guide to Marine Spares
How technical superintendents can source the right marine spare for each application - balancing genuine OEM parts, certified equivalents and reconditioned units against cost, lead time and class requirements.
- spare parts
- procurement
- marine spares
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Knowledge That Stays With the Ship, Not the Crew
Crew rotation quietly erases hard-won vessel knowledge every few months. Here is how vessel-specific AI memory keeps the troubleshooting, history and context aboard the ship, where it belongs.
- AI
- vessel knowledge
- crew rotation
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Proactive Dry-Dock Planning: How Early Preparation Controls Cost and Off-Hire
A practical framework for owners and superintendents to plan a dry dock well before the vessel arrives - scoping, spares, class items and the growth list that protects the budget.
- dry dock
- ship repair
- project management
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Preparing for Port State Control with an AI Compliance Co-Pilot
How an AI compliance co-pilot helps Masters and superintendents prepare for Port State Control - turning scattered records, certificates and class rules into instant, inspection-ready answers.
- port state control
- compliance
- AI
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Supporting Seafarer Welfare with a 24/7 AI Companion
How a maritime AI companion supports crew wellbeing, morale and retention at sea - offering a friendly voice on every watch, in every time zone, without replacing the human support seafarers need.
- seafarer welfare
- crew retention
- AI
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A Buyer's Guide to Pre-Purchase Marine Surveys
What a pre-purchase marine survey covers, how to scope it, and how to find and book a qualified, verified surveyor before you commit to buying a vessel.
- pre-purchase survey
- ship sale and purchase
- marine surveyor
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SIRE 2.0: What Changed and How to Prepare
A practical guide to OCIMF's SIRE 2.0 tanker vetting regime - what is different from the legacy programme, why crew competency now matters as much as hardware, and how to prepare with a pre-vetting inspection.
- SIRE 2.0
- tanker vetting
- OCIMF
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Booking Marine Surveys and Audits Online
How owners, charterers and insurers can request, compare and book qualified marine surveyors online - from pre-purchase and hull and machinery to draft, cargo and MLC work.
- marine survey
- surveyors
- Book My Survey
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Riding Squads: Repairs Without the Off-Hire
How riding squads carry out hull steel renewal, welding and fabrication while a vessel keeps trading - delivering class-standard repairs without an unscheduled dry-docking.
- riding squads
- steel renewal
- ship repair
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Marine PCB Repair vs Replacement: Cutting Cost and Lead Time
When a marine control or automation card fails, replacing the unit is rarely the fastest or cheapest fix. Here is how component-level PCB repair restores critical systems when a new card is obsolete or weeks away.
- marine electronics
- PCB repair
- ship repair
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Retrofitting for Decarbonisation: EEXI and CII
A practical guide to meeting EEXI and CII obligations through retrofit - from engine power limitation and energy-saving devices to keeping the modification class-approved and the vessel trading.
- retrofit
- decarbonisation
- EEXI