IMPORTANT NEWS
Dockplan development
In late 2021 Dockplan will re-emerge as an entirely new application. It will have significant improvement in existing functionality and important new functionality.
The new Dockplan will be released as a web application, entirely rebuilt from the ground up.
The web-based Dockplan will offer exciting new possibilities, from a user’s point of view and technically.
If you want to learn more about the new Dockplan and the features it has to offer, read on...
If you are looking for the existing desktop version of Dockplan click here
WHAT'S NOT NEW
All the basic and familiar functionality from the desktop version of Dockplan will be carried over to the first release of the new Dockplan.
This is functionality like:
NEW TECHNICAL FEATURES
The new Dockplan requires no software installation, no in-house server management, no database administration and no investment to start using it.
Run Dockplan from your favourite web browser, sign up and you are set to go.
Your data are stored and safeguarded on Dockplan data centres around the world. This ensures safety, speed and global access to Dockplan, both for you and for other parties invited to participate in the dry-docking.
Start working on a dry-docking while located in your technical department. Invite the vessel to participate with its input. Travel to the shipyard site office abroad, and pick up where you left off. Allow the technical
department back home to monitor progress of the dry-docking in real time.
The new Dockplan will feature an API that will allow data to flow in and out of Dockplan on request from external systems. For instance, enable 2-way communication with existing client systems like PMS, procurement, budgeting and finance. More...
Some examples of functionality provided by the API:
Allow PMS to raise jobs in the dry dock specification, and have Dockplan notify the systems of completed dry-docking jobs
Information about requisitioned parts and materials can be exchanged between Dockplan and external procurement systems
Quoted and final prices, along with information on invoice settlements, can be transferred to budgeting and financial systems
COLLABORATION PLATFORM
From being a desktop application for use mainly by the superintendent, the new Dockplan will serve as a shared collaboration platform for all participants in the dry-docking.
Multiple participants can be invited to the dry-docking and be assigned access rights depending on their roles and responsibilities.
Besides the superintendent in charge of the dry-docking, other participants would typically be assistant superintendents, the vessel’s owner, fleet group management, the shipyard, sub-contractors, vessel’s crew, class representative and others.
The superintendent in charge can easily invite participants and assign roles that control each participant’s access to information and functionality in a dry-docking.
Some participants may have read-only access to the entire dry-docking, while others may only have access to particular jobs in the specification.
Dry-docking costs, quotations and other details can also be made visible or hidden depending on role.
AUTOMATED QUOTATIONS
The new Dockplan supports automatic acquisition of quotations from shipyards and sub-contractors. Once the dry dock specification is complete, the superintendent initiates the quotation process and waits for quotations to arrive in the system.
Dockplan acquires quotations from shipyards and sub-contractors, as selected by the superintendent for each job in the specification.
Shipyards are to quote on yard-related jobs, whereas various sub-contractors are presented with specific individual jobs for quotation, according to the superintendent’s choice.
Received quotations are negotiated in the system, along with comparison and appointment of preferred shipyard and sub-contractors.
NOTIFICATIONS
Planned for 2022
Dockplan notifies users about events and occurrences pertaining to their role and responsibilities in the dry-docking. Events like:
Notifications can also be created manually by one user to others.
Set a notification to require acknowledgement by recipients, to ensure that vital communication is received.
APPROVAL WORKFLOW
Planned for 2022
The approval workflow defines a fixed set of processes or tasks that require authoritative approval or sign-off before the project can move on.
This could be approval of the dry dock specification, budget, yard appointment, budget overruns etc.
The Dockplan approval workflow ensures that only authorised personnel can sign off at vital stages in the process.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Planned for 2022
The dry-docking process is supported by project management tools like scheduling activities, dependencies, milestones, Gantt charts etc.
Individual jobs can thus be made dependent on the start or completion of other jobs.
If a job becomes delayed, dependent jobs are promptly rescheduled and relevant parties notified.
SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS
Planned for 2022
Dockplan is designed to function equally well on hand-held devices.
For ease of use, hand-held devices will offer functionality specifically selected for the typical information and dry-docking tasks you need to have to hand when moving around in the docks.
FINAL INVOICING
Planned for 2023
Upon completion of jobs, final invoices are uploaded by shipyards and sub-contractors for approval by the superintendent.
After negotiation and settlement, invoices are released for payment.
SPARE PARTS
Planned for 2023
Dockplan registers parts and materials required for the dry-docking jobs.
Requisitioned parts can be entered manually or fed in from PMS or procurement systems along with P.O. numbers, shipment references and expected delivery times.
When shipments are delivered, receipt is confirmed in Dockplan and information sent to stakeholders and procurement systems.
