LNG dual-fuel vessels require regular patrols across accommodation areas, machinery spaces, open decks, emergency routes, and fuel-related zones. These inspections are already part of normal ship operations, but proving that every task was completed can be difficult. Paper logs may be filled in after the patrol, while verbal handovers can miss important details.
A Guard Tour System connects the patrol plan, checkpoint, crew member, inspection time, and result. It helps technical managers see which locations were checked, which patrols were late or missed, and which findings require follow-up.
On an LNG dual-fuel vessel, however, system selection cannot begin with a standard product list. The equipment must match the vessel’s hazardous-area classification, network conditions, metal structure, and onboard safety procedures.
Why Does an LNG Vessel Need a Guard Tour System?
A vessel already has watchkeeping duties, safety checklists, planned maintenance, and emergency procedures. A Guard Tour System does not replace these processes. It makes routine patrol execution easier to verify.
The system can help managers answer several practical questions:
- Did the assigned crew member reach every required location?
- Was the patrol completed within the planned time window?
- Which checkpoints were missed or visited late?
- Were abnormal conditions recorded at the scene?
- Is there photo, video, voice, or text evidence?
- Are the same problems appearing repeatedly in one area?
Possible checkpoint locations include fire doors, escape routes, lifesaving appliances, ventilation equipment, control stations, deck access points, machinery spaces, and approved fuel-system areas. The final route should always be based on the vessel’s own safety procedures and approved drawings.
The IMO IGF Code is intended to reduce risks to ships, crews, and the environment when gas or other low-flashpoint fuels are used. It requires equipment in hazardous areas to be limited to what is necessary and suitably certified. It also divides hazardous areas into Zones 0, 1, and 2 so that appropriate electrical equipment can be selected.
How Does a Guard Tour System Work Onboard?
A marine Guard Tour System normally includes a patrol terminal, checkpoints, management software, and a defined operating process.
First, checkpoints are assigned to approved inspection locations. Each point should have a clear name, such as “Engine Room Fire Door,” “Emergency Generator Access,” or “Bunkering Station Boundary.”
Second, the technical manager creates routes and schedules for different watches, operating conditions, or security levels.
Third, the crew member verifies each location using QR code, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, RFID, or another approved method.
Finally, the records are uploaded to the management platform. Supervisors can review completed patrols, missed points, sequence errors, timestamps, inspection notes, and multimedia evidence.
JWM patrol software supports checkpoint setup, patrol plans, inspection content, historical records, patrol reports, and audit review. The system can also mark omissions and connect photos, videos, audio files, and notes with the related checkpoint.
A Guard Tour System Must Match the Vessel’s Area Classification
One device configuration should not be assumed suitable for every space onboard.
The IGF Code states that electrical equipment should generally not be installed in hazardous areas unless it is essential for operational purposes or safety. When equipment is installed in these areas, it must be properly selected, maintained, evaluated, and certified under recognized standards.
IEC 60079-14 covers the design, selection, installation, documentation, and initial inspection of Ex equipment in explosive atmospheres. Its scope includes portable, transportable, and personal electrical equipment. This means handheld patrol terminals must also be included in the hazardous-area review.
Before selecting a Guard Tour System, the vessel operator should confirm:
- Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 boundaries;
- required equipment protection level;
- gas group and temperature class;
- exact Ex marking and certificate;
- battery, charger, and accessory coverage;
- flag-state and classification-society requirements;
- owner and ship-management procedures.
It is also important to understand that IP68 and explosion protection are different. IP68 describes resistance to dust and water ingress. It does not by itself prove that a device is safe for use in an explosive gas atmosphere.
JWM Guard Tour System Solution for LNG Dual-Fuel Vessels
For LNG dual-fuel vessels, JWM recommends a zone-based solution rather than using one patrol method across the entire ship.
JWM Guard Tour System for Hazardous-Area Patrols
Where an explosion-protected handheld terminal is required, the recommended product is the explosion-proof version of the JWM WM-5000PH8.
The PH8 is an Android-based smart inspection terminal designed for patrol work that requires more than a simple checkpoint scan. According to the JWM product page, it supports QR code, BeiDou or GPS positioning, Bluetooth checkpoints, and NFC checkpoints.
Crew members can record inspection results through:
- photos and videos;
- voice and text notes;
- electronic inspection forms;
- selectable inspection results;
- location information;
- SOS and communication functions.
The listed PH8 configuration includes Android 11, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, a 5.5-inch display, four-mode positioning, a 13-megapixel rear camera, IP68 protection, and a 4300 mAh explosion-proof battery option. It also supports 4G communication, navigation, calling, and SOS functions.
At each checkpoint, a crew member can confirm arrival, complete a checklist, select the current equipment condition, photograph an abnormal indicator, or add a voice note. This gives the supervisor more useful information than a timestamp alone.
However, the term “explosion-proof version” should not be treated as universal approval for every LNG vessel area. Before delivery, the technical manager should verify the current certificate package, exact product model, Ex marking, gas group, temperature class, permitted zone, battery configuration, and operating limits.
JWM Guard Tour System for Non-Hazardous Areas
Approved non-hazardous areas may use a simpler RFID-based solution.
For example, the WM-5000V5 patrol reader can work with WM-30A 125 kHz RFID checkpoints to confirm that a crew member reached fixed inspection locations.
This offline setup is suitable for stable patrol routes and areas with weak network coverage. Records can be stored during the patrol and uploaded later. The standard JWM process includes checkpoint installation, patrol schedule setup, checkpoint scanning, data upload, and patrol-report analysis.
The WM-30A is a compact passive RFID checkpoint that does not require local wiring or a separate power supply.
The V5 and WM-30A combination should still be used only in approved locations. A passive checkpoint does not automatically make the complete Guard Tour System intrinsically safe.
JWM Guard Tour System Solution for LNG Dual-Fuel Vessels
| Vessel Area | Main Patrol Purpose | Suggested JWM Solution | Main Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Access and Accommodation | Security, access control, escape-route and fire-door checks | WM-5000V5 with RFID checkpoints, or PH8 with QR code and NFC checkpoints | Use equipment approved for the specific installation area |
| Machinery Spaces | Equipment-condition, emergency-route and safety-facility inspections | PH8 with electronic checklists, photos, videos, voice notes and text records | Confirm the hazardous-area classification before selecting the terminal |
| Open Deck | Access-point, lifesaving-equipment, firefighting-equipment and route checks | PH8 with GPS positioning combined with QR code or NFC checkpoints | Test checkpoint reading and positioning around metal structures |
| LNG Fuel and Bunkering-Related Areas | High-risk operational, leakage, barrier and safety-condition inspections | PH8 explosion-proof configuration with approved checkpoint methods | Verify the certificate, Ex marking, gas group, temperature class and permitted zone |
| Hazardous-Area Boundary | Confirm arrival at a controlled boundary without unnecessary entry | Approved checkpoint installed at the designated safe boundary | Follow the vessel's access-control and hazardous-area procedures |
| Charging and Reporting Area | Device charging, data synchronization and patrol-report review | Charging equipment, communication components and JWM patrol management software | Place charging and data-transfer equipment in a controlled non-hazardous area |
Note: This table is provided for preliminary planning. Final product selection and checkpoint placement must follow the vessel's approved hazardous-area drawings, onboard procedures, certification requirements and classification-society rules.
How Can a Guard Tour System Improve Patrol Evidence?
A basic checkpoint scan proves that a crew member reached a location. A smart patrol terminal can also record the condition found there.
For example, the inspection form may ask the crew member to confirm that:
- a fire door closes correctly;
- an escape route is clear;
- ventilation openings are unobstructed;
- emergency lighting is available;
- no visible damage or leakage is present;
- safety barriers and warning signs remain in place.
When an abnormal condition is found, the user can add a photo, short video, voice note, or written description.
JWM Cloud can organize checkpoints, crew members, patrol schedules, inspection content, and reports. It can identify omissions, show historical records, and connect multimedia evidence with the relevant checkpoint. This allows technical managers to review repeated problems and assign follow-up work.
Can a Guard Tour System Work Without Stable Network Coverage?
A Guard Tour System can work with limited network coverage, but the software must be configured for the vessel’s real communication conditions.
Mobile coverage may be available while the vessel is in port but limited offshore. Steel bulkheads and machinery spaces can also affect wireless signals.
The patrol application should therefore be able to store records locally when the network is unavailable and synchronize them after a connection becomes available. Managers can set an upload routine after each watch or when the vessel reaches an approved network connection.
Urgent events must still follow the vessel’s radio, alarm, and emergency procedures. A Guard Tour System provides patrol evidence and management visibility. It does not replace certified gas detection, fire detection, alarm, or emergency communication systems.
How Should Guard Tour System Checkpoints Be Placed?
Each checkpoint should be close enough to the item being inspected, but it must not force the crew member into an unsafe position.
For example, a checkpoint related to a hazardous space may be installed at an approved boundary when the task is to confirm the entrance condition rather than enter the space.
Checkpoint names should also be specific. “Port Bunkering Station Safety Barrier” provides more useful information than “Deck Point 3.”
The installation team should consider:
- weather exposure;
- cleaning chemicals;
- salt air;
- vibration;
- surrounding metal;
- visibility at night;
- crew access and escape routes.
QR labels need suitable marine-grade materials. NFC and RFID checkpoints should be tested in their final positions because surrounding metal can affect reading performance. GPS checkpoints are normally more suitable for open deck areas than enclosed spaces.
Steps to Deploy a JWM Guard Tour System Onboard
- Review the vessel layout, safety procedures, and hazardous-area drawing.
- List patrol tasks for each route and watch.
- Separate non-hazardous areas from Zones 0, 1, and 2.
- Select the patrol terminal and checkpoint type for each area.
- Verify the PH8 explosion-proof documents against the required Ex classification.
- Install and name checkpoints in approved positions.
- Build schedules, checklists, users, and exception categories in JWM software.
- Test checkpoint reading, GPS, offline storage, uploading, and multimedia records.
- Train crew members and supervisors.
- Review early patrol data and adjust the route.
A short pilot route is often better than installing every checkpoint at once. It allows the technical team to correct checkpoint positions, time windows, and inspection questions before full deployment.
Conclusion: Build the Guard Tour System Around the Vessel’s Risk Zones
An LNG dual-fuel vessel needs more than a standard patrol reader and a box of checkpoints. It needs a Guard Tour System designed around patrol routes, crew duties, network conditions, inspection content, and hazardous-area boundaries.
JWM Guard Tour System can combine the PH8 explosion-proof smart terminal, suitable checkpoint methods, configurable patrol plans, electronic inspection forms, multimedia evidence, and management reports.
Standard RFID products such as the WM-5000V5 and WM-30A may also support approved non-hazardous routes.
The key is correct separation. Standard equipment should be used only where it is permitted. Verified explosion-protected equipment should be selected where the area classification requires it. Certificates, batteries, chargers, and accessories should all be checked before installation.
With this approach, a Guard Tour System becomes a practical tool for stronger patrol execution, clearer records, and better onboard follow-up.
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