If your organisation owns and utilises marine equipment, you’ll know how important it is to keep those instruments and pieces of machinery well-maintained.
For precision instruments, the maintenance required is often particularly specialist and is likely to include expert on-site calibration for marine instruments and equipment. But why is this the case? What are the benefits of on-site calibration? How often is it required and how can you find a service of this kind?
In this article, the team at GNW Instrumentation – industry leaders in precision marine equipment on-site calibration services – will provide a useful introduction to the practice of on-site marine equipment calibration, answering the above questions and more.
How Is On-Site Calibration For Marine Instruments And Equipment Beneficial?
As we’ve already mentioned, calibration is a key element of maintenance for precision marine equipment. As is the case with more general upkeep and servicing, expert calibration services are required regularly to achieve the following benefits.
Safety
Many marine instruments are very finely tuned, as inaccuracies in their readings or inexactness in their performance may lead to hazardous situations. Simply put, the safety of your equipment, your premises and your staff relies on proper maintenance of this kind.
Once your instruments are calibrated, the chances of dangerous malfunctions will be significantly reduced.
Accuracy
Of course, improved accuracy ties in neatly with equipment safety, as discussed above.
However, when the precision of an instrument’s operations is assured through proper calibration, the quality of its output will be improved as a result. Whatever the function of your equipment, the results will be far more precise following calibration.
Longevity
Regularly calibrated equipment almost invariably lasts longer. Wear and tear can be reduced or remedied in this way, meaning repairs and replacements will be required less often. This will save you time, stress and money.
Why On-Site?
The process of on-site calibration is often seen as preferable to its off-site alternative, as there is no need for delicate equipment to be transported, service providers are able to interact with the instruments in their normal environment and downtime can be kept to a minimum.
How Often Should On-Site Calibration Be Conducted For Marine Equipment?
Generally, companies should consider arranging for marine equipment on-site calibration services to be provided at least once per year. However, this may vary depending on the nature of the equipment, the purpose for which it is employed and the heaviness of use.
What Are The Key Challenges In Calibrating Marine Navigation Instruments?
Naturally, the work involved in calibrating marine navigation systems requires significant expertise. This is in no small part due to the potential challenges involved.
Those challenges may include environmental issues – such as the equipment being kept in less-than-ideal conditions, the knock-on effects of incorrect use or the failure to implement regular software updates and the consequence of external interference, to name just a few.
In addition, some amount of downtime will usually be required to ensure that the equipment is calibrated as accurately and effectively as possible.
The specialists at GNW Instrumentation have developed a range of on-site calibration techniques for marine instruments to minimise the impact of any and all challenges and to ensure very little downtime.
Can On-Site Calibration Improve The Lifespan Of Marine Equipment?
Absolutely. Regular and timely calibration will serve to reduce wear and tear, which means that instruments and machinery will function at full capacity for far longer than they would if maintenance of this kind was not undertaken.
What Are The Common Types Of Marine Instruments That Require Calibration?
There is a wide range of marine instrumentation that requires regular, accurate calibration. This includes:
- Dynamometers
- Fixed gas detectors and other gas detection systems
- Fixed sampling systems and sampling pumps
- Flow meters
- Load cells
- Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment (ODME)
- Oily Water Separators (OWS)
- Pressure calibrators and transmitters
- Radar sensors
- Shackles
- Slings
- Temperature calibrators and transmitters
- Ullage Temperature Interfaces (UTI)
Even your drug and alcohol testing equipment may require calibration for complete accuracy.
GNW Instrumentation can provide on-site calibration services for all of the above. We can also help you undertake checks regarding your adherence to Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).
How Can I Arrange On-site Calibration For My Marine Instruments?
GNW Instrumentation is a well-established on-site calibration company that specialises in marine equipment.
We also offer custom manufacturing of specialist equipment, as well as machinery repair services. Our staff are highly trained in the calibration of instrumentation in numerous fields, from Formula 1 to the military.
If you would like to discuss the specific requirements of your equipment, to ask for advice regarding maintenance or calibration or to find out more about our services, please get in touch with our experts today. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.