What is Marine E-logs Software and How Does it Work?

Logbooks have been an integral part of maritime documentation for millennia. Whether it’s a small sailing boat, an old explorer ship, or a large container vessel, all types of shipping boats have logbooks on board. These books act as the ship’s diary, recording all the important data and information about the vessel’s operations and journey.

Traditionally, logbooks are handwritten, providing an accurate record of where the ship traveled, with whom, where, and when. With technological advances, the marine sector has seen the advent of marine e-log software, which is fully capable of replacing the paper copy of register logbooks. Stick with us as we explore the basics of marine e-logs software and detail their numerous benefits and applications.

What is Marine E-log?

In essence, marine e-log refers to the simple act of recording logbook data in a digital format. With marine e-log software, ship operators can standardize logbook entries, increasing their transparency and making them accessible to ashore teams to perform data analysis. The use of marine and marine management software also takes away some workload on the bridge, thus giving officers more time to carry out other duties on board. Furthermore, marine e-log software makes it easy for ship owners to follow regulations and monitor voyage performance and other use cases.

Who Offers Marine E-logs Software?

ABB, MARINA MASTER Ltd., Marine, Cloud Ltd, MESPAS AG, Oracle, Dockmaster, Lloyd's Register Group Services Limited, Scribble Software Inc., Chetu Inc., and TIMEZERO are some of the top companies offering marine e-log software. These companies have strengthened their market presence through various strategic initiatives, such as partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships. Here are some of the latest developments in the world of marine e-logs software:

• In July 2024, Union Marine Management Services and NAPA announced a partnership for the deployment of Voyage Optimization and CII simulator digital systems. Under the new partnership, the digital systems will be installed on 55 bulk carriers in the fleet currently under the management of Union Marine Management Services (UMMS).
• In January 2024, ABB announced the acquisition of DTN Shipping's business in the Philippines and Europe. The new expansion is anticipated to boost ABB’s digital offerings and position it as a market leader in ship routing optimization.

How Do E-logs Work?

A marine e-logs module is a software application that comes with an engine and a deck logbook. That way, both the engine and the deck department on board a ship or vessel to keep their logs digital. It helps ease the administrative tasks and workload for the crew onboard. Also, marine e-logs software encompasses a range of automatic control mechanisms to reduce the error rate. As such, deviations from ship-specific limitations can be quickly identified and acted upon.

E-logs can work with a variety of operations and ships. These logbooks can include a standard library of events. Also, they may record company and ship-specific information on marine seats. Marine e-logs software can be installed on board vessels and onshore. The onboard and onshore applications are constantly synchronized to exchange information and data.

What’s Included in Marine E-logbooks?

Marine e-logbooks record all the key aspects related to the vessel’s performance and day-to-day activities. The main messages needed when using e-logs are:

Departure message (DEP)

• Must be sent before the ship leaves the port on every trip
• Must provide information on all the gear and catch on board at the time of departure
• Provide accurate details for the leader of the voyage
• Must declare intended activity like fishing, cruising, or scientific exploration

Fishing Activity Report (FAR)

• Must be provided every day before 23:59, even if there’s no catch to declare for that day

• Must provide information for all catch on board having more than 50kg live weight
• Must include a record of what’s been discarded into the sea
• Should record undersize fish in accordance with the landing obligation

End of Fishing (EOF)

• EOF needs to be submitted after sending all Fishing Activity Reports on all fishing trips
• It is an indication that no more fishing will be carried out on that trip

Prior Notification (PNO)

• PNO must be sent by the ship’s master to the port authority before entering a port
• Must include detailed information on the total catches to be landed
• The time frame for sending a PNO is typically 4 hours before arrival

Return to Port (RTP)

• Needs to be submitted every time a vehicle makes its way back to the port
• Must declare the reason for the return, such as repair, landing, and sheltering
• RTP usually entails submitting a landing declaration

Benefits of Marine E-logs Software

There are numerous benefits of using marine e-logs software over traditional logbooks. These include:

• Data Quality: Marine e-log software has the ability to validate data entries, thus improving data quality.
• Efficiency: E-logs can take away some of the administrative workload on crews and make it easy to record data.
• Regulatory Compliance: E-logbooks can improve transparency and traceability of pollution-related vessel operations.
• Data Availability: E-logs are highly accessible, and their data can easily be made available onshore.
• Environmental Friendliness: Marine e-logs software can be more environmentally friendly as it reduces the need for printing paper.
• Data Analysis: E-logbooks can automatically calculate and analyze information. This makes it easier to identify patterns and track trends.
• Data Backup: The data of e-logbooks is stored electronically in a secure audit rail or on cloud storage. As such, the data and information are easy to back up and restore.

Enabling Regulatory Compliance

Marine e-log software has made it easy to record all vessel operations, including manually-reported information and sensor-collected data. Also, they help improve safety by reducing operator fatigue and ensuring compliance with regulations for operating hours. Also, they offer a better understanding of events and easy reporting of accidents. With time, more ship operators are expected to shift from the traditional logbooks to marine e-logs software.