Tanjung Kapal Services Sdn Bhd (TKS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysian-based publicly listed company, Tanjung Offshore Berhad (TOB), has entered an agreement with Norwegian fleet management systems provider, BASS for the purchase of BASSnetTM integrated ship management systems.

During the initial first half of 2008, BASS will install BASSnetTM Fleet Management Systems comprising crew management, payroll, planned maintenance and procurement systems onboard the company’s fleet of offshore support vessels and offices on land. The deal, covering seven vessels, is expected to significantly improve fleet management efficiency to Tanjung’s offshore operations.

According to Captain Hassan Ali, CEO of TKS, the agreement is consistent with the company’s policy of working with quality suppliers. “We were seeking a supplier with the tools, experience and capacity to provide a robust system in line with industry standards,” he says. “After an exhaustive evaluation process, we selected BASS because of their modern and superior software, extensive experience and strong regional presence.”

Mark Ravi, regional manager for BASS, says that the agreement marks another milestone for BASS in Asia. “We view this contract as part of a growth trend for our business in Malaysia and the region, where demand for BASSnet Fleet Management Systems is increasing, especially in the oil and gas sector.”

Driven by rising oil prices and increased demand for offshore services, TKS plans to expand its fleet and improve its maintenance/operations division by using efficient information management systems. Once the BASSnet solutions are installed, users on board and office workers on land will be able to collate crew information, monitor inventories and streamline payroll processes.

The system will also allow users to access vital data from a centralised database repository system. With BASSnetTM, TKS will find it easy to comply with regulations and conduct performance monitoring of their entire crew.

Captain Hassan is looking forward to the implementation process. “To succeed, TKS and BASS will work closely to configure and implement the system to improve our fleet management operations. Once installed, the system will enable TKS to establish best operating practices in line with BASS’ vast global customer base,” he says. “BASS is internationally recognised for its capability to deliver a comprehensive fleet management system and has supplied solutions to some of the industry’s top global companies.”

Mark Ravi notes that unlike many competing software providers, BASS is established on 140 years of maritime experience, and serves about 80 customers and more than 1,000 ships worldwide. The company is backed by a network of regional offices, and has the technical capacity to deliver software upgrades on demand. “As new features and modules are developed, BASS will continue to integrate the new modules into BASSnet fleet management systems without any interruption in service.” In addition to the software solutions, BASS will supply consulting and project services.