The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group has announced that it will unveil a new app for seafarers as well as an upgraded training centre in Manila as progress accelerates on Project Embark.
Project Embark is a programme designed to transform the way the leading supplier of independent ship management and related marine services handles crewing for its pool of 44,000 seafarers.
A press release from the provider of marine support services said that The app will enhance the seafarers’ experience, while enabling V.Group to utilise regularly updated seafarer data to improve crewing performance and assist in planning.
The app will provide a seamless experience to support professional development, performance appraisal, training, and documentation uploads throughout the vessel mobilisation process, including travel arrangements, it said.
The app tackles issues stemming from the fact that most crew paperwork and certification is still paper-based, and as such, transferring from one job to another can be a time-consuming and frustrating process for seafarers, often involving expensive journeys and long wait times. This eats into valuable time ashore and affects the ability of managers to plan effectively.
For customers, the data from the app enables Project Embark’s goal of using innovative technology and data-driven insights to provide best-in-class service to meet our customers’ needs in an ever-demanding market.
Allan Falkenberg, Group Managing Director, crew management at V.Group, said, “Project Embark is about providing an effective, simple and globally connected experience for our seafarers, offering the opportunity for career development with V.Group. Through the app, we’re making the experience of searching for assignments, signing contracts, and managing documentation as functional as booking a flight or shopping online."