Author: sarah

For 28 years, the Medway Tunnel, underneath the River Medway, which connects the towns of Chatham and Strood in Kent, England, has relied on accurate water level monitoring to guarantee a safe passage for over 40,000 vehicles per day.

The tunnel has four strategically placed sumps, one at each end and two in the centre, and these sumps collect any water from the River Medway and road runoff. Shortly after the tunnel’s opening in 1996, our PSM level transmitters were installed in each sump.

The 4-20mA signals from these transmitters are fed into a PLC system that controls the pumping out of sumps, when the level reaches a predefined point, crucial for optimal water management, Because the level is controlled within a defined range, the transmitters were required to provide accurate measurement over a small range – 450mm for the central sumps and 1300mm for the larger end sumps, providing precise data within this critical zone.

The PSM transmitters have delivered exceptional performance throughout the tunnel’s operation. One transmitter is the original unit installed in 1996, while two were replaced in 2006 and two upgraded in 2009, meaning even the newest has worked reliably for over 15 years.

Recognising the critical role these instruments play, PSM is contracted to conduct annual checks and calibration certifications. These checks are performed during nighttime closures of the tunnel to ensure safety, and these inspections often reveal that the transmitters have maintained their accuracy, requiring no or minimal adjustments year after year.

At Scanjet PSM, we understand that every vessel has unique needs. With over 40 years’ experience serving the diverse needs of the Naval, Superyacht, Ferry, Tanker, Tugboat and Workboat markets, our dedicated project management team understand the unique challenges and requirements of each vessel type. We will work closely with you to identify the optimal instrumentation solutions for your vessel’s need.

If you are unsure which product is right for your vessel, we have created simple Application sheets for each of our key markets. These downloadable resources detail the most suitable products for your ship type.

Download the Application Sheets here and find the perfect fit for your vessel.

I joined PSM in 1998 as a Welder, and since then have taken on a number of roles within the company, including Stores Controller, Team Leader and Auditor.

I currently hold the position of Production Controller, leading a team of Production Technicians and Apprentices. My responsibilities include day to day organisation and management of the team and ensuring that we meet all the production deadlines, so my work is very much hands on!

Outside of work I am an avid sports fan and support Manchester City, which is a lot easier than it used to be! I played football at local and county level for many years, and more recently have transferred my sporting interests to tennis and play for my local club, Haywards Heath Tennis Club. I am a huge music fan and regularly attend gigs and festivals, and also love films, often visiting local independent cinemas.

I am also a very proud uncle to my two nephews, Josh and Jacob.

Calling all maritime industry professionals, after a couple of years of disrupted events due to the pandemic, 2024 promises a wave of exciting events, conferences, and exhibitions across the globe.

Whether you are looking to network, learn about the latest maritime innovations, meet exhibitors, or connect with industry experts, below are a list of the maritime exhibitions that representatives from Scanjet PSM are currently planning to attend:

Asia Pacific Maritime (Singapore) – 13-15 April

Posidonia (Athens, Greece) – 3-7 June

Seawork (Southampton, United Kingdom) – 11-13 June

SMM (Hamburg, Germany) – 3-6 September

Monaco Yacht Show (Monaco) – 25-28 September

In addition to the planned events, we will also be making regular trips worldwide to meet our partners, distributors, and shipbuilders, so keep an eye on LinkedIn and subscribe to our e-newsletter to keep up to date with when and where.

Based on our established and Type Approved VPM Display and Connect Software Platform, we have introduced a dedicated and accurate self-contained system to provide monitoring and indication of Vessel Draught at two or four points, as well as real-time Vessel Trim and Heel indication. The new Dedicated Draught Monitoring System includes a clear graphical presentation on the integral 7” colour touchscreen, which comes with a choice of day / night display modes.

Inputs are from our APT1000 transmitters, which are positioned on the hull at Forward, Aft, and Midships locations. Serial communication between the transmitters and display unit is via a single 4 core multidrop network which minimises cabling requirements, or for retrofit installations the transmitters can be operated as 2 wire 4-20mA units allowing existing cabling to be used.

The system is fully versatile and can be used on any vessel type. It includes all compensation factors necessary to relay the installed location of the transmitters to the hulls draught markings, so that the screen presentation is in agreement with observed draughts at the marks. Trim and heel values are also calculated from the draught sensor signals and can be displayed as required.

The new system comes with a host of benefits, including improved safety and stability as accurate draught, trim and heel information is key to safe operation and enhanced operational efficiency.

Recent installations of our Dedicated Draught Monitoring System include two systems supplied to Shannon Ferries for their RoRo Vessels, where we were able to make use of all existing cabling and pre-configure the system with all parameters making for a straightforward installation and system commissioning, which the Vessel owners were able to complete with no additional costs.

It has been another exceptionally busy and rewarding year for PSM, with some high-profile project wins for Naval vessels and new product launches throughout the year.

Further project wins this year included full tank gauging system refits for the Mount Ventoux Ro-Ro Ferry and Cactus Crude Oil Tanker, a system upgrade for the Farsaell Fishing Vessel, and several full systems supplied for newbuild Superyachts, all testimony to the flexibility of our APT1000 Transmitter / VPM Display Systems.

We have also launched special variants of our Connect Monitoring System, to provide a dedicated vessel trim, heel and draught monitoring system in response to customer enquiries, and this has already been installed on several vessels, including Capesize Cargo Ships and Shannon Ferries as pictured below.

Closer to home, after our offices and factory were damaged by flooding, we have undertaken a compete restoration and upgrade project, which has streamlined and improved our production processes and working environments.

We are already planning ahead for 2024, and we look forward to sharing some exciting new developments with you in the new year.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our valued customers, suppliers and agents a very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2024 from everyone at PSM.

The PSM offices will be closed over the Christmas period from Friday 22^nd December until Tuesday 2nd January.

Offshore and floating wind platforms are becoming increasingly more popular as a viable renewable energy resource and PSM has been leading the way in developing reliable monitoring and control systems, that can optimise platform stability and monitor performance of these platforms.

Our new ‘Connect’ system has enabled us to enhance our platform monitoring even further with digital technology that delivers fully dynamic monitoring. ‘Connect’ is built around a central processing module, that interfaces directly with the company’s intelligent digital sensors, via a multidrop network and receives other input signals via a range of interface cards.

The ‘Connect’ system ensures continuous, accurate monitoring of ballast and service tank levels and multiple point draught measurements, whilst also monitoring wave height, temperature and pressure. Multiple display points are connected via a single ethernet link, presenting information according to the application or operational area and are available to be read by the platform’s management system at any time. Internet connectivity additionally allows remote updating and configuration.

The benefits of accurate monitoring ensure efficient and safe operation and optimum platform stability to help secure a bright future for offshore and floating wind farms as a major renewable energy alternative.

With most of our business transactions being conducted online and our company data held in the cloud, the security of the information we send, receive and store is of upmost importance, both from an operational perspective and in handling sensitive customer data.

This is especially the case for the various governmental / Naval projects we work on. Proposals and project documentation may often only be submitted via a client’s own secure portal and this practice is now extending to Classification Societies for product approval purposes.

Before access to a client’s portal is granted, a company will normally have to demonstrate that they have the necessary protection in place for handling sensitive data. This year at PSM, we have undergone a complete change in our I.T. infrastructure, with it now being entirely cloud based and making use of the latest Microsoft applications. All users may only download applications to their local machine via a secure central portal, and only applications which are held on the parent company Scanjet’s portal may be used.

In addition, this year we have been certified under the UK Government Cyber Essentials scheme, where an approved independent company assesses all aspects of data handling and tests for vulnerabilities. We are delighted that PSM met and has been accredited to the enhanced standard of Cyber Essentials Plus.

Building on this, many companies in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sectors also use a further accreditation known as JOSCAR provided by Hellios. This is a wider reaching evaluation of a potential supplier, taking in all aspects of its organisation, operation, production standards and finances. We have held JOSCAR accreditation for a number of years and recognise its value as providing reassurance to our customers, and in some cases a mandatory compliance.

Since its inception, PSM has always been assessed for and held ISO 9000 Certification, and has this year been recertified to the latest standard.

When our parent company, Scanjet, was acquired by Alfa Laval in 2022, we also gained access to a full suite of best business practice policies, which deal with all aspects of company operation and its interaction with its employees and clients.

Together, all these accreditations, practices, and policies ensure PSM continues to do all we can to ensure the safe handling of customer data and a professional and ethical approach to business.

Copies of all accreditations can be found on the PSM website.

We are thrilled to share that we recently marked a new milestone in its history by successfully hosting an inaugural online product training series in collaboration with partners from around the globe. With participants from 14 countries, our virtual event brought together 40 dedicated attendees.

The enthusiasm and engagement shown by all participants exceeded our expectations. We are proud to have successfully adapted to the virtual format, and it is great to witness how technology can bridge gaps and bring together maritime industry professionals worldwide.

But this is just the beginning! We are excited to announce that there are more events on the horizon.  Our next session will provide an in-depth look into the technical aspects of ‘Connect’, our Digital Monitoring System.

We extend our thanks to everyone who made our first online training series a resounding success and eagerly anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead.

Stay tuned as we continue our journey of learning, growth, and innovation.