NAPA has launched a new onboard stability software solution to increase ship-to-shore transparency and raise the industry benchmark for ship stability and loading management.

The solution, NAPA Stability, is set to replace NAPA Loading Computer in the passenger shipping sector. It will be deployed with additional cloud-based functions on NAPA Fleet Intelligence.

NAPA Stability is based on NAPA’s 3D calculations and ship design mathematics, it covers a wide range of calculations related to hydrostatics, intact stability, damage stability, and longitudinal strength.

NAPA Stability achieves the requirements set by classification societies for passenger ship loading computers and meets the strictest regulations (IACS UR L5 Type 4 Compliant, Safe Return to Port). The solution has undergone rigorous testing and is driven by the feedback gathered from over 250 user interviews. The solution will be further iterated for deployment to the Ferry and Ro/Pax sectors.

NAPA Stability brings user interface improvements, making processes such as loading condition planning, tank monitoring and draft surveys easier. By integrating with NAPA Fleet Intelligence, a cloud-based monitoring system, it enables real-time stability data management for shoreside stakeholders, such as FOCs (Fleet Operations Centre) and ERSs (Emergency Response Services).

In addition to stability information, the solution provides FOC and ERS ashore with immediate access to situational information, allowing them to follow any stability-related situation in almost real-time and respond faster and more effectively to emergencies, such as flooding.

With cloud support from NAPA Fleet Intelligence, ship stability data is available everywhere, meaning that experts can be reached in emergencies all over the world. Crucial yet often overlooked live datasets, such as time, positioning and weather data, are also incorporated into the suggested decision-making response. This provides the user with greater intelligence to make critical decisions, such as when or if to abandon a ship. 

“At NAPA, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the industry’s highest-performing data-driven solutions. NAPA Stability was born out of the need to enhance the speed and accuracy of ship stability management, both of which are essential considerations in emergencies and normal operations alike. We are again at the forefront of innovation through its launch by reacting to our users’ evolving requirements. I am incredibly proud of our team and cannot wait to see the solution raising the standards for passenger ship stability following total deployment to the market,” explained Esa Henttinen, executive vice president, NAPA safety solutions.

Jussi Siltanen, senior product manager, NAPA safety solutions, said: “The increased insight, and greater transparency between ship and shore that NAPA Stability and the stability monitoring function in NAPA Fleet Intelligence provides will revolutionise the way we manage ship stability. NAPA Stability provides the industry with incredible potential to reduce immediate risks by enabling greater accuracy and faster decision-making support. At the same time, the increased quality and quantity of data gathered from past incidents will help shipowners and operators improve their stability operations and get a better insight on potential incidences – unlocking a new era for safety at sea.”