Author: sarah

The PSM BLS 9200 Bilge Level Switch is a fully submersible marine approved float switch, designed, manufactured and approved to meet and exceed the requirements for applications on all classes of marine vessels and offshore installations. In particular, its proven reliable performance and robust construction have led to it being the instrument of choice in critical applications for superyachts, military vessels and offshore platforms.

When considering bilge switches, it can be easy for a ship builder to try and make cost savings by using cheaper instruments, which are often constructed with lower quality and less resilient materials. However, we believe that this approach compromises safety, and is a false economy, as maintenance and replacement costs will always exceed those of installing a sensor that will be able to withstand years of service in difficult environmental conditions, as is the case with the BLS 9200.

The all-stainless steel design of the BLS 9200 with EPR cable means it is resistant to seawater, fuel oil and hydraulic fluid and uses a two-bolt mounting bracket ensuring that installation is quick, simple and secure. The integral switch test level also allows for routine safety tests to be carried out.

The BLS 9200 can be tailored to customers’ exact requirements, and is why some of the world’s most prestigious superyacht builders have chosen the BLS 9200. It has been supplied to vessels constructed by Amels and Feadship in the Netherlands, Pendennis and Oyster in the UK, and Turquoise in Turkey.

Mont Ventoux is a Ro-Ro Ferry originally built in 1996. When its existing tank gauging system was in need of a replacement, PSM were contacted to provide a solution.

As a retrofit project, minimal modifications to existing mounting methods for the level transmitters and cabling requirements were essential, and our digital network solution was selected. This connects all tank level transmitters on a multi-drop network. requiring just one interconnecting cable for both power supply and signal.

We supplied a total of thirty-five transmitters for Ballast, Diesel, HFO, and Service Tanks, with a mix of internally and externally mounted sensors to re-use existing mounting points. All these transmitters were interconnected via PSM RFM junction boxes via two network cables, one for Hazardous Area transmitters, and one for Safe Area.

The networks terminated in the Engine Control Room where a small touchscreen display provided summary information on all tanks. This display communicated all information to a second touchscreen display on the Bridge and an additional larger 19” touchscreen in the Cargo Control Room. All the displays were interconnected by a single ethernet cable, which again reduced cabling needs and so costs.

Screen layouts were designed in line with the customer’s requirements, with both bar graph and tabular presentation of data. When operational, each display can be controlled individually to show either all tanks, or only those tanks of interest to the operator.

In the face of adversity, human resilience shines through, and businesses are no exception. Natural disasters can wreak havoc on even the most well-established companies, but it is how we respond to these challenges that defines our character and resilience. For PSM it has been a remarkable journey so far to recover from the devastating effects of flooding and emerge with a much-enhanced operating environment.

Overnight in November 2022, the stream close to the Scanjet PSM premises overflowed after exceptionally heavy rain fall, leading to widespread flooding of the nearby industrial estate. The PSM factory itself was engulfed by rapidly rising waters.  Thankfully, the level alarm fitted to the outside of the building alerted employees of the situation. They were able to enter the building and worked through the night clearing drains outside to try and help alleviate the water, whilst moving production equipment onto pallets to avoid damage and save inventory.

The damage to the infrastructure was extensive after being submerged in around 6 inches of murky water throughout the building.

Staff were initially disheartened seeing the impact of the flood on the factory and offices the following day, but quickly embraced the challenge, setting out on a journey to simultaneously maintain the day-to-day operations of the business whilst rebuilding the factory.

Restoring a factory is no small feat especially when production must continue, but all staff approached the task with determination. They immediately initiated a comprehensive assessment of the damage, involving experts in restoration works and insurance assessors to evaluate the situation and make a plan of action.

Six months into the restoration and the team can now see the end is in sight.

The offices have been relocated to the second floor to allow for an increase in production space, which now has new walls and flooring.

Rather than merely restoring the factory to its pre-flood state, we have taken the opportunity to optimise and improve our production processes. Redesigning the factory layout has streamlined workflows, optimised inventory management, and improved the working environment for all employees.

The journey is not over yet, and it will be a few more months before all production spaces are fully restored. However, we wanted to share and recognise the continued determination by everyone involved at Scanjet PSM to overcome the challenge.

We also want to thank all our customers and partners for your continued support and understanding.

We look forward to sharing the final outcome and welcoming our partners to visit our new and improved site.

I’ve always had a keen interest in anything mechanical and all things engineering from an early age, I also used to ride motocross as a teenager, which I absolutely loved, but unfortunately, was terrible at!

After completing my C&G car mechanic apprenticeship, I joined PSM in 1988. In my 35 years at PSM I have had a number of roles starting from production technician to customer support, purchasing officer, sales engineer to my current role as Project Manager. I also spent several years on the road and traveling overseas as service support, installing, servicing and commissioning PSM tank gauging equipment.

Looking back over my 35 years, it has been an amazing journey seeing how PSM has evolved. Starting in Axminster Devon, in what was an old converted house, manufacturing pressure capsules and level transmitters for industrial applications predominantly to the UK market, to where we are now and developing, manufacturing and supplying complete tank gauging solutions with our digital APT modbus sensors and VPM display modules to the international marine sector.

Outside of work, I am a father of two and enjoy coming home to my fiancée’s African cooking. I also enjoy playing the guitar and keeping fit with walking, going to the gym and playing golf.

In response to detailed enquiries, we have launched a specific development of our Type Approved Connect Monitoring System which provides a dedicated Display of Vessel Trim and Heel, and as an option, Vessel Draught.

Intended as a simple to operate stand-alone package, the system comprises of two elements: a small enclosure fitted with solid state inclinometers to measure the vessels inclination, and a small console or wall mount touchscreen colour display.

Only a single 24V DC supply to the display is needed and a single cable interconnects both elements, meaning both can be positioned optimally for measurement of the vessel’s inclination and display at a convenient location. Repeater displays can be readily added, again only requiring a single cable connection.

The display provides a clear indication of both instantaneous and averaged Trim & Heel where the averaging period may be adjusted by the user, and, where PSM level transmitters are also installed, will show fore, aft, and midships draught.

The system has inbuilt corrections to remove any offsets caused by the location of the inclinometers and draught sensors, meaning true Trim & Heel in addition to draught at the marks is shown.

Another new feature is the switchable dark mode display for night operation, and although intended as a stand-alone system, also features an RS485 output which can feed current status to other systems via industry standard Modbus protocol.

The new system has already proved a great success with eight systems installed on Capesize Cargo Vessels from the Seanergy fleet.

The Farsæll Fishing Vessel (ex Helga) was originally constructed in Taiwan in 2009, and along with two sister Vessels was equipped with a full PSM tank gauging package for all of its thirteen ballast and fuel oil tanks. The original system we supplied included PSM’s TankView System with displays in two locations.

Fourteen years on from the original system fit, the PSM level transmitters are still fully functioning and giving reliable service, but the PC based display system needed overhauling since it was using a long obsolete version of the Windows operating system.

We were able to provide a drop-in replacement in the form of our current generation of tank gauging displays. This comprised a VPM display with an integral 7” touchscreen display that interfaced directly with the existing sensors and acquisition modules and provided all tank shape and S.G. correction to give a display of actual content. Additionally, a larger remote touchscreen display provides a comprehensive display in the wheelhouse.

Interconnection of the two displays is by a single ethernet connection and means cable changes were minimal, and as an entirely in-house developed platform (both hardware and software) there are no concerns going forward about obsolescence of the operating system.  The Vessel is now set to operate reliably for at least another decade.

My working life started with a 4 year apprenticeship program at a major Control and Instrumentation Company, which included college attendance and progression through all the departments learning different aspects of the business. I then started work at PSM in 1992, where I was initially responsible for the Sales and Marketing.

Alongside working at PSM, I took a 2 year HNC business course in the evenings, and now my role at PSM encompasses all aspects of the sales cycle, from initial enquiry through to product delivery. As a member of the PSM management team, I also have other responsibilities to the Managing Director.

During my 31 years at PSM I have seen some significant successes within the Military and Marine sector, both in the UK and internationally, and watched us grow to now having trading partners in over twenty countries. More recently I have also overseen some exciting new product developments with the APT Modbus sensor range and compatible multi-tank displays.

Away from PSM I love being a Grandad to my 2 year old grandson, and enjoy spending time with family and friends and watching my son play football. You can often find me in the kitchen making homemade bread and pizza, or going to the cinema, watching live music and taking long walks in the countryside.

SOLAS regulation II-1/22-1 states that passenger ships carrying 36 or more persons and constructed on or after 1 July 2010, must have an approved flood detection system, and sets out the functional requirements of the system. PSM’s Connect VPMS central monitoring system has been Type Approved by DNV to fully meet the needs of this directive.

In addition, our range of hydrostatic level transmitters and Bilge level detection switches are approved as suitable measuring instruments to detect ingress into watertight spaces.

The Connect system can be either supplied as a stand-alone solution dedicated to flood detection and reporting, or it may be included as part of the Connect tank contents gauging system, meaning a saving on duplication of hardware and costs.

The SOLAS regulation defines that either point level or continuous level detectors may be used and provides guidance on where and how many need to be installed. For point level detection our BLS9200 bilge level switch is used, and where continuous detection is needed our APT500 or APT1000 level transmitters are installed.

Signals from all flood detection sensors are routed to a central display which is tailored for each application to give a clear presentation of live status of all monitored points, with alarm conditions being clearly shown and an external audible alarm being activated in response to all alarms.

Typically, the alarm display will be located on the Navigation bridge, but the flexibility of the Connect system allows additional display screens to be added at as many locations as required. Each display screen can show discrete information, meaning that one may be dedicated for tank content gauging and another for flood detection.

As a safety critical function, the system must be continuously powered. To meet this, the Connect system incorporates an automatic changeover from primary to the ships back-up supply in the event of a power failure and will immediately alert system operators with a separate power failure alarm.

The regulation further defines that all detection sensors must be able to be locally tested by simulation. Our BLS9200 flood detection switch incorporates a manual test handle to facilitate this, and our hydrostatic sensors can be easily tested by application of a suitable pressure.

We hope you agree, that as a flexible, expandable, and readily incorporated into a wider tank gauging package, our Connect system provides a fully compliant and cost-effective solution for all Passenger vessel applications.

With 18 years of maritime industry experience, my career started working on deck on superyachts, before progressing to First Mate, amassing 25,000 miles at sea. I then developed my skills as a superyacht Broker and Manager, before joining one of the world’s leading superyacht supply companies, where I was a Sales and Procurement Director. My role encompassed leading the teams who looked after superyacht and commercial customers, selling 35,000 different products a year to customers across seventy-two countries.

This experience and understanding of customers’ needs will assist me greatly in my new role of Business Development Manager at Scanjet PSM, where I will be working with PSM’s existing agents and partners to support their efforts in providing shipbuilders and ship owners with the best tank gauging solutions for their vessels, from advanced sensors to our complete tank monitoring system ‘Connect’.

In addition, I will be helping expand PSM’s footprint into other countries by bringing new agents and partners on board. I am based in the UK but will be travelling around the World to meet customers and attend all the major Marine shows and exhibitions.

Outside of work I am at my happiest walking our dogs with my wife – we have three miniature dachshunds. I also enjoy playing golf and going to watch live sporting events.