Oil and filter changes at 250 or even 500 hours, as recommended in manufacturers’ maintenance manuals, make for a demanding service schedule. However, the introduction of the Fleetguard filtration monitoring system, FleetguardFIT™, proved service intervals could safely be extended to 1500 hours for 'M/S Hendrika', a dry cargo vessel. This reduced engine maintenance costs by approximately half for ship owners, the de Boer family, based in the Netherlands.
According to the data provided by the system, we can even extend beyond that interval,” says Mr. de Boer who, prior to the FleetguardFIT installation, serviced the engine oil and filters every 800 hours, due to limited access to oil sampling. In fact, at 1,500 hours, continued oil sampling shows that engine oil and filters are still within their limits.
FleetguardFIT, which stands for Filtration Intelligence Technology, monitors filters and engine oil health in real time using smart sensing, state-of-the-art algorithms, cloud computing, and on-board diagnostics. Developed by Atmus Filtration Technologies, this system not only optimizes filter and oil life but also saves time and money by avoiding unnecessary downtime via servicing only when needed.
Having already installed solar panels on the ship, the de Boer family discovered that the increase in efficiency provided by FleetguardFIT reduced environmental impact further. “With FleetguardFIT and our solar panels, we are ready to comply with tighter government environmental regulations that might be coming soon. This can ultimately help us win more business,” says Mr. de Boer, whose vessel sails through the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Germany.
Vessel and Engine Facts
'MS Hendrika'
| Vessel type |
Dry cargo transportation |
| Length |
85 metres |
| Tonnage |
1,438 ton |
| Built |
1981 |
| Operating hours |
10 - 12 hours 6 days a week |
Engine
| Manufactured |
2005 |
| Type |
Cummins KTA38M |
| Horsepower |
1,000 HP |
| Displacement |
38 litres |
| Operating hours |
8 - 12 hours 6 days a week |
'M/S Hendrika', which transports livestock feed, construction materials, and other types of dry cargo, is the first marine vessel in the Netherlands with FleetguardFIT. Installed on the 1,000 HP marine engine are two LED air filter restriction indicators, an oil quality sensor, and differential pressure sensors for the lubrication filter and the fuel water separator.
Following the installation of FleetguardFIT, the de Boers could monitor the oil and filter health through the FleetguardFIT portal, accessible via desktop or mobile app. The quick-reference, color-coded dashboard displays any immediate or pending actions required and the remaining useful life of all monitored consumables. For fleet owners, equipment status can be viewed per vessel, enabling them to track maintenance events and consumable performance over time.
One notable feature of the portal is its capability to send timely warning and critical alerts. 'M/S Hendrika' avoided costly downtime thanks to a critical air filter alert from FleetguardFIT. “Without this, if the engine had been left running, it could have suffered turbo damage. This would have resulted in unexpected high repair costs, and potentially also a loss of income,” says Mr. de Boer.
Compared to theoil sampling method the de Boers used previously, the monitoring solution offers significant advantages. Mr. de Boer explains, “The test results used to take five days to arrive. If the engine had been experiencing any critical issues during that time, it could have been too late to prevent major equipment failure. Having access to real-time data at any time of day provides more operational reliability and peace of mind.”
Furthermore, FleetguardFIT can provide third parties, such as insurance companies, with proof that oil and filter changes have been carried out on time, critical alerts have been responded to promptly, and oil quality has always been correct during the engine's operating hours.
Paul Louwe, senior technical support engineer for Atmus Filtration Technologies, has advised and supported the de Boers throughout the FleetguardFIT evaluation. He says, “The right filters on high horsepower engines can last two, four or even eight times longer than manufacturer’s recommendations. What’s more, predictive maintenance based on real-world conditions can save thousands in unplanned downtime per vessel per year, which can be significant for a fleet owner.”
Although not part of a fleet of vessels, for 'M/S Hendrika', the benefits of the condition-based monitoring system are clear. As well as meeting the original goal of reducing maintenance costs by extending the life of the oil and filters, it has helped extend equipment life and maximize uptime, while lowering the environmental impact of the business.
FleetguardFIT is suitable for air, oil and fuel filters, and lube oil on diesel and natural gas engines and can be used on other types of non-classed inland-waterway vessels, such as passenger ships and carriers of other types of cargo. In the last 10 years, the system has collected over 10 million hours of data across 25 countries on different types of applications. FleetguardFIT has also been successful in other markets, including on-highway, oil and gas, mining, power generation and rail. The system is compatible with most of today’s fully electronic engines and older mechanical engines regardless of manufacturer.