PMS
A Planned Maintenance System (PMS) is the computerised system used by ship managers to schedule, track, and record maintenance tasks across the vessel's machinery, hull, equipment, and safety systems. PMS is required by SOLAS, the ISM Code, and most classification societies — and is foundational to a vessel's technical management.
Each component (main engine, auxiliary engines, pumps, separators, deck machinery, life-saving appliances, etc.) is registered with its maintenance procedures, triggered either by running hours (e.g., overhaul at 8,000 hours) or by calendar dates (e.g., monthly safety equipment checks). The system raises tasks automatically, assigns them to crew, tracks completion, records spare parts consumption, and feeds findings into ISM non-conformity workflows.
Modern AI-augmented PMS adds predictive maintenance — analysing sensor data (vibration, temperature, oil analysis) to flag component wear before scheduled overhaul intervals.
The PMS is the backbone of ship maintenance — it schedules every job by running hours and calendar, drives spares and procurement, and keeps the maintenance history that class and vetting inspectors demand. A vessel without a working PMS fails audits and courts breakdowns.
calendar due
& done
for class
What does a planned maintenance system do?
It registers every piece of shipboard equipment with its maintenance procedures, raises jobs automatically by running hours or calendar, tracks completion, records spare-parts consumption, and keeps the auditable history.
How does a PMS link to spares and procurement?
When a maintenance job consumes a spare, an integrated PMS updates stock and can trigger re-order — so maintenance, inventory and marine procurement stay in step automatically.