Indian Register of Shipping & Neptunus Pioneer India’s First CBM-Based Marine Engine Monitoring Technology

A Make-in-India milestone sets new benchmarks for maritime innovation, efficiency, and sustainability

India has taken a major leap toward maritime self-reliance with Neptunus Power Plant Services Pvt. Ltd. partnering with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to introduce the country’s first condition-based monitoring (CBM) technology for marine engines. The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Maritime India Week 2025 in Mumbai, aligns strongly with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat ambitions. The event, attended by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, reinforces India’s growing ability to design, build, and certify world-class marine technologies.

Shipping & Neptunus

As part of this milestone, IRS granted Type Approval Certification to two made-in-India solutions from Neptunus—VIB 360, an engine condition monitoring system, and Torque Sense SHAPOLI. This marks the world’s first instance of a classification society certifying fully indigenous marine engine health-monitoring technologies. The development positions India to lead in data-driven, environmentally conscious, and cost-efficient fleet management.

Traditionally, ship engines are maintained based on fixed OEM timelines, often leading to unnecessary costs or unexpected failures. VIB 360 transforms this model through Condition-Based Maintenance, enabling operators to diagnose issues in real time, reduce downtime, and optimise fuel efficiency. These capabilities can bring down maintenance costs by up to 30%, while supporting global efforts to reduce emissions and enhance maritime safety. With precision monitoring and data analytics at its core, this technology is poised to redefine operational reliability for commercial and defence fleets across the world.

Speaking at the signing, Mr. Uday Purohit, MD & CEO, Neptunus Power Plant Services, said the partnership reaffirms confidence in Indian engineering to deliver globally benchmarked technologies. He noted that the Type Approval validates the company’s ability to build advanced, digital, marine-grade systems entirely within India. According to him, the collaboration strengthens the shift toward safe, efficient, and data-centric fleet operations worldwide.

Mr. Akshay Purohit, Director & COO, emphasised that the joint initiative makes CBM mainstream in the Indian maritime sector. By combining regulatory depth from IRS with Neptunus’ engineering and digital expertise, the partnership enables a transition to predictive maintenance, extended equipment life, and better fuel performance. He added that this shift could reshape marine asset management practices globally, beginning with India.

Under the MoU, IRS and Neptunus will create frameworks and standards for CBM adoption, accelerating the transformation from time-based service cycles to real-time, evidence-based maintenance. The initiative aligns with India’s Digital Maritime Vision and Green Shipping goals, encouraging sustainable operations and lowering lifecycle emissions. As a result, ship owners gain from higher reliability, fewer unscheduled stoppages, and greater operational transparency.

The certification also supports India’s vision of developing homegrown technology suited for global deployment. Built in Navi Mumbai, VIB 360 and Torque Sense SHAPOLI are export-ready solutions that demonstrate India’s capability to innovate in sectors traditionally dominated by international suppliers.

Neptunus, with nearly three decades of experience across 30+ countries, offers expertise in engine services, asset optimisation, and reliability engineering across marine, oil & gas, and defence sectors. The company was recognised as India’s Top Innovative MSME (Medium Category) by the ET Award 2023, further underscoring its leadership and R&D strength.

Website: www.neptunus-power.com