Marfle, FPH and Hart mark two years of partnership

MARFLE, Flinders Port Holdings and Hart Marine, recently celebrated two years of collaboration, bringing together advanced fleet performance monitoring and shipbuilding to boost pilot boat operations in Australia.

The partnership began in late 2023 via close collaboration between Australian shipbuilder Hart Marine and Flinders Ports Holdings (FPH), the major port operator in South Australia.

After an initial demonstration of Marfle Fleet Analytics, Flinders Ports recognised the benefits of integrating the system into its day-to-day marine operations.

FPH has progressively rolled out Marfle software across its pilot boat fleet to enable data-driven decision-making and higher efficiencies.

Four Flinders Ports pilot boats are now powered by Marfle software, providing visibility into fleet and vessel performance, engine health, fuel efficiency, and vessel handling.

Marfle is said to have proven to be a powerful operational tool for Flinders Ports, enabling the detection, analysis and visualisation of real-time engine data alongside historical performance metrics, in a simple-to-use, intuitive interface.

Feedback on the platform is said to have been positive, with Marfle’s automated reporting functionality now widely used across the organisation.

All vessels involved in the collaboration have been built by Hart Marine, Flinders Ports' major pilot boat shipbuilding partner.

During the past two years, Hart Marine has delivered three new pilot boats for Flinders Ports with Marfle systems installed and has also retrofitted the technology on an existing Hart-built vessel.

“Hart Marine is known worldwide as the ‘Pilot Boat of Choice,’ building high-performance pilot and patrol vessels for demanding operations,” said Hart Marine production manager Ben Switzer.

“By combining our proven shipbuilding experience with Marfle’s advanced fleet analytics, Flinders Ports now operates top-tier pilot vessels that keep crews safe, perform at the highest level, and support long-term fleet and vessel performance."

Marfle chief executive Joose Viljanen Hart Marine’s technical expertise and Flinders Ports’ operational insight had been critical to the success of this collaboration.

“From initial demonstrations to system installation and ongoing development, this partnership shows how technology providers, operators, and shipbuilders can work together to deliver practical, operationally relevant solutions,” Mr Viljanen said.

Hart Marine also serves as Marfle’s official installation partner across Australian waters, ensuring seamless integration of the Marfle system across both new and existing vessels.

The most recent milestone in the collaboration was the integration of weather data into Marfle’s platform, a development that is already enhancing operational awareness for Flinders Ports’ marine teams.