Version 1.32: Release Notes

Welcome to Helm CONNECT 1.32. Click the links below to learn all about this release:

• The Platform
• Helm CONNECT Maintenance
• Helm CONNECT Compliance
• Helm CONNECT Jobs
• Helm CONNECT Personnel
• Helm CONNECT Reports
• Helm CONNECT Permissions
• Helm CONNECT API
• Updates

The Platform

Our "platform" is our base product and includes the features and functionality shared by all our customers. Changes to our platform affect everyone, regardless of the product lines or modules you subscribe to. We made the following platform changes in this release.

Multi-Factor Authentication

We’ve added support for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in Helm CONNECT.

You can now add an extra layer of security to user logins by requiring a time-based code in addition to a username and password. MFA is supported for:

• Shore-based users who log in with a username and password
• Shore-based users who log in with SAML
• Onboard users using Multi User Sign On

You can manage MFA settings from the My Helm > Profile > Security tab or the Setup > Users > Users tab, depending on your permissions.

Password Reset Support on Asset Installations

Users can now reset their expired or temporary passwords directly from an asset installation—no need to switch to shore. This improvement simplifies the reset process and helps reduce login-related support requests.

Previously, users who needed to reset an expired or temporary password were redirected to the shoreside login, which could be confusing and inconvenient.

Now, when a user logs in from an asset installation and their password needs to be reset:

• They are prompted to enter a new password on the spot, using the same reset interface available on shore.
• If the asset is connected to the internet, the new password is confirmed with shore immediately and applied locally so the user can log in right away.
• If no internet connection is available, they see an error message explaining that a connection is required to complete the reset.

Restrict Edits to the Built-In Admin Role

You can now prevent users from assigning or removing the built-in Admin role unless they have a new permission: "Setup > Users > Roles > Can assign built-in Admin role".

Previously, anyone with the "Setup > Users > Users > Edit" permission could add or remove any role from any user—including the built-in Admin role.

Now, the built-in Admin role (even if renamed) is protected:

• On the Setup > Users > Users tab, the Admin role checkbox will appear disabled for users without this new permission.
• API requests to api/v1/jobs/users/CreateOrUpdateUser that modify the Admin role will also require this permission.

This new permission helps protect a critical system role while still allowing access to other non-admin roles. By default, it will be turned on for any role that already had the "Setup > Users > Users > Edit" permission, so existing behavior will remain unchanged unless you remove the new permission manually.

Helm CONNECT Maintenance

We made the following changes to Helm CONNECT Maintenance in this release.

Manage All Your Inventory from a Single Screen

We improved the Inventory module to make it easier to manage parts from a single screen. You can now group, filter, and monitor inventory more efficiently on both the Inventory > Inventory > Parts tab and the Onboard > Inventory > Parts tab. You can enter minimum and maximum quantities manually or update them through the API.

Group and Filter Inventory

You can now group inventory by part or by asset using expandable sections that display a total estimated quantity for each group. We also added new filters—Below Minimum, Above Maximum, and Default Location—to help you find parts that need attention. These filters are available on both the Inventory > Inventory > Parts tab and the Onboard > Inventory > Parts tab, and in reports based on the Part Quantities data source.

Set Quantity Thresholds

You can now set minimum and maximum quantity values per part and per location. The system includes validation to prevent common errors, such as setting a minimum that’s higher than the maximum.

Track Low Inventory with Notifications

The system now sends a notification to the notification center when a tracked part falls below its minimum quantity. Onboard crew and users assigned in the new Inventory Parties field—accessible from the Details sub-tab of the Management > Assets > Assets tab—will see the notification, even if they’re viewing a different part of the system.

Additional Enhancements

• The system now displays a visual indicator when a part falls below its minimum quantity.
• An error message appears if you try to deselect a default storage location without selecting a new one.

Streamline Part Usage with Asset Warehouses

You can now set up warehouse assets and default storage locations to automatically supply parts in checklists and forms. This reduces manual transfers and makes it easier for your crew to track part usage.

Configure Warehouse Assets and Defaults

We added a new Warehouse checkbox on the Setup > Operations > Asset Types tab and a new Default Part Warehouse field on the Details sub-tab of the Management > Assets > Assets tab. You can also assign a default storage location for each part on each asset, and the system will use these defaults to pre-fill inventory and part usage fields when you complete a form or checklist.

Track Usage from Warehouses

To support this new workflow, we made the following changes:

• Added a new Consumed By Asset column and filter to the Parts History list view.
• Added Zone, Shelf, and Bin to the history details for forms, inspections, and maintenance checklists.

Additional Enhancements

• Added a new Default Location filter (checkbox) to the Inventory > Inventory > Parts tab.
• Changed the Asset Types filter on the same tab to support multiple selections.
• Added a new Inventory Parties select box to the Details sub-tab of the Management > Assets > Assets tab. The system uses this field to determine who receives notifications when a tracked part falls below its minimum quantity.
• An error message appears if you try to deselect a default storage location without selecting a new one.

Helm CONNECT Compliance

The New Library Tab is Coming in Version 1.34

In Version 1.28, we introduced the Library (Beta) tab under My Helm > Documents, Onboard > Documents, and Compliance > Documents as a new, mobile-friendly alternative to the original Library tab. Since then, we’ve continued to improve the new tab based on feedback from early adopters, including adding the mobile-friendly document viewer in Version 1.31.

In Version 1.34, we’ll retire the original Library tab, and the Library (Beta) tab will become the new Library tab. The transition will be seamless for you and your crew—there’s nothing you need to do.

Acknowledge Documents for the Asset from the Library (Beta) Tab

On asset installations that use Multi User Sign On, your crew can now acknowledge documents set to “Acknowledge by Asset” from the mobile-friendly Library (Beta) tab under either My Helm > Documents or Onboard > Documents.

When documents require acknowledgment, the system now displays them in two separate sections on the Library (Beta) tab: one for those that require asset acknowledgment and one for those that require individual acknowledgment. Your crew can acknowledge documents for the asset by opening them in the document viewer, where they’ll see an Acknowledge icon similar to the one used for individual acknowledgment.

Helm CONNECT Jobs

Use Electronic Record Books to Meet Regulatory Requirements

We first introduced the Record Books feature as a pre-release in Version 1.30 and made improvements in Version 1.31 based on early feedback. Now, in Version 1.32, we’re excited to officially launch Record Books as an optional add-on for customers who subscribe to the Logbook module.

Record Books provides an electronic version of the structured paper books traditionally used onboard vessels. It helps your crew print and sign logbook entries in compliance with MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) while maintaining the exact layout and formatting expected by auditors.

The Marshall Islands certifies the following nine record books for use in Helm CONNECT:

• Oil Record Book, Part I – Machinery Space Operations
• Oil Record Book, Part II – Cargo/Ballast Operations
• Cargo Record Book
• Garbage Record Book, Part I
• Garbage Record Book, Part II
• Ozone-Depleting Substances Record Book
• Record Book of Engine Parameters
• Record Book of Fuel Oil Changeover Operations
• Record Book of the Tier and On/Off Status of Marine Diesel Engines

We continue to work with other flag states and classification societies to expand our certification coverage.

What’s new:

• Attachments: You can now add files when updating a Record Book entry. An Attachments tab appears in the update screen, and the log view shows how many attachments are included.
• Preloaded record books: We added nine non-editable, MARPOL-compliant books to simplify setup and ensure consistency. Each one is preconfigured with standard codes and is set to require a signature, a master signature, or both before printing.

Sign Logbook Entries on the Logbook Tab

You can now sign activities, events, crew changes, checklists, tasks, and component activations directly on the Onboard > Logs > Logbook tab without leaving your workflow. The new Sign Logbook button builds on the E-signatures pre-release feature introduced in Version 1.30 and uses the same permissions as shift signing.

View Straddling Activities on the Logbook Tab

You can now view ongoing activities that span multiple days directly on the Onboard > Logs > Logbook tab. These straddling activities appear as lines without specific times and are labeled with the status Continued when they don’t start or end on the selected day. This gives masters and other users better visibility into activities across multiple days and makes it easier to sign off on daily logbook entries.

Control What Appears on Billing Logs and Master Logs Printouts

We added new checkboxes on the Setup > Events > Event Types and Activity Types tabs to help you control which activities and events appear on the default Billing Log and Master Log printouts:

• Show on Billing Logs
• Show on Master Logs

Track Fuel and Oil Usage for Attached Assets

You can now track fuel and oil usage more easily on attached assets like cranes and barges. When adding a cargo hold or tank on the Management > Assets > Assets > Cargo Holds sub-tab, you can choose a Tank Content Type: Cargo, Ballast, Fuel Oil, or Lube Oil. If you select Cargo, you can further define it as Dry or Liquid. If you select Ballast, Fuel Oil, or Lube Oil, the system treats the tank as a fluid tank.

Print Current Fluid and Cargo Amounts for Primary and Attached Assets

You can now print fluid and cargo amounts for primary and attached assets directly from the Onboard > Logs > Cargo tab. After logging amounts in the Logbook, you can use the Print button to generate a printout. Changes made to fluid or cargo values are automatically reflected on the Cargo tab and in the print preview.

View Cargo Amounts by Cargo Hold

You can now view cargo amounts by cargo hold for both primary and attached assets in the Onboard > Logs > Cargo tab. After logging cargo amounts in the Logbook, the distribution across cargo holds appears automatically. Any updates in the Logbook are immediately reflected.

View Cargo and Fluid Details More Easily on the Voyages Tab

We improved the layout of the Jobs > Dispatch > Voyages tab to make it easier to see your cargo and fluid details. Instead of listing the names of the sub-menus vertically to the left, we now list the sub-menu names horizontally above the details. This gives you more horizontal space and makes it easier to view all the information without scrolling.

See More Statuses at a Glance on the Attached Traffic Tab

We expanded the legend for the Jobs > Dispatch > Attached Traffic tab to show more attached asset statuses at a glance, giving you a clearer, faster view of your barge and attached asset operations. You can now quickly see whether an attached asset has one of the following statuses:

• Picked Up + On Voyage + Upcoming Voyage
• Picked Up + On Voyage + No Upcoming Voyage
• Picked Up + Upcoming Voyage
• Picked Up + No Voyage
• Not Picked Up + No Voyage

Use Different Contracts Without Losing Bill To or Email Information

We fixed an issue with the “Use Different Contract” feature that sometimes prevented the Bill To Address and Email fields from auto-populating on invoices. This happened if you selected a different customer and contract on a trip than on the associated order.

Job-Based Crewing is Here!

Job-based crewing is a new feature in Helm CONNECT that bridges the gap between the Crew Scheduling module in Helm CONNECT Personnel and the Dispatch module in Helm CONNECT Jobs. It enables users to assign and manage crew members directly from the job dispatch interface, streamlining the workflow and reducing the need to switch between modules.

Helm CONNECT Personnel

We made the following changes to Helm CONNECT Personnel in this release.

Multiple Crew Changes Onboard

Captains often need to crew multiple crew members on or off at once and enter the same details for each, such as location or description. To make this easier, we added a new Multi Crew Change button to the right of the existing Single Crew Change button on the Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes tab.

The fields displayed to crew multiple crew members on and off onboard are similar to the ones displayed on the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes tab onshore, but do not include the Planned Date and Time fields.

Custom Fields for Multiple Crew Changes Onboard

You can configure different custom fields for crew changes performed on the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes and Schedule tabs versus the ones on the Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes tab. On the Setup > Personnel > Schedule Custom Fields tab, you’ll now find two sub-tabs:

• Shore — for custom fields for crew changes on the Personnel > Schedule > Crew Changes and Schedule tabs
• Onboard — for custom fields for multiple crew changes on the Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes tab

Generate Payroll from Timesheets

We added a new Timesheets payroll target on the Setup > Payroll > Payroll Schemes tab so you can now calculate earnings, extra pay, accruals, and withdrawals using timesheet values. You can include a variety of conditions in your calculations, including custom fields from the Timesheets tab, confirmations, actual start date, actual end date, earning codes, and positions.

We also added a new condition to the Date target called "Date: Timesheets Exists," which calculates payroll only when timesheets exist on the given date.

Improvements to the Crew Scheduling Module

We’ve made several updates to the Crew Scheduling module to give you more control and improve reliability.

Schedule tab

• We added a new setting that allows new crew changes from the schedule to be published by default. The setting is turned off by default, so behavior remains unchanged unless you enable it.
• When you’re sorting by assigned asset, you can now apply the crewing requirement’s position as a secondary sort.
• We fixed some bugs related to drag-and-drop reordering of positions in the crewing requirement editor.
• We fixed an issue where colors, travel time, or notes could be removed when you made other changes.

Calendar tab

• We added a settings dialog that allows you to toggle the visibility of crew change data.
• We fixed an issue where crew names were duplicated when multiple positions of the same type were included in the crewing requirement.
• We fixed a bug that could prevent some crew members from appearing on the calendar under certain conditions.

Improvements to the Work Rest Module

We’ve made the following updates to improve clarity and reliability in the Work Rest module:

• We fixed a bug where work rest settings could sometimes revert to default values unexpectedly.
• We updated the non-compliance tooltips to clearly indicate whether a total time or consecutive time rule was violated.

Job-Based Crewing is Here!

Job-based crewing is a new feature in Helm CONNECT that bridges the gap between the Crew Scheduling module in Helm CONNECT Personnel and the Dispatch module in Helm CONNECT Jobs. It enables users to assign and manage crew members directly from the job dispatch interface, streamlining the workflow and reducing the need to switch between modules.

Improvements to the Crew Scheduling Module

We’ve made several updates to the Crew Scheduling module to give you more control and improve reliability.

Schedule tab

• We added a new setting that allows new crew changes from the schedule to be published by default. The setting is turned off by default, so behavior remains unchanged unless you enable it.
• When you’re sorting by assigned asset, you can now apply the crewing requirement’s position as a secondary sort.
• We fixed some bugs related to drag-and-drop reordering of positions in the crewing requirement editor.
• We fixed an issue where colors, travel time, or notes could be removed when you made other changes.

Calendar tab

• We added a settings dialog that allows you to toggle the visibility of crew change data.
• We fixed an issue where crew names were duplicated when multiple positions of the same type were included in the crewing requirement.
• We fixed a bug that could prevent some crew members from appearing on the calendar under certain conditions.

Improvements to the Work Rest Module

We’ve made the following updates to improve clarity and reliability in the Work Rest module:

• We fixed a bug where work rest settings could sometimes revert to default values unexpectedly.
• We updated the non-compliance tooltips to clearly indicate whether a total time or consecutive time rule was violated.

Reports

We made the following changes to our reports in this release. These changes may also affect report data linked to systems outside Helm CONNECT, such as Power BI. Please contact your account manager if you have any questions.

Assets

We added the Default Part Warehouse column.

Audits

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Components

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Corrective Actions

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Forms

We added the Asset Name column to the Item Values > Subtotal section.

Inspection Checklists and Maintenance Checklists

We added the Asset Name column to the Item Values > Subtotal section.

Maintenance Templates

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Part Quantities

We added the following filters:

• Asset Type
• Default Storage Location
• Below Minimum Quantity
• Above Maximum Quantity

We also added the following new columns:

• Default Storage Location
• Maximum Quantity Set
• Maximum Quantity Set (Asset)
• Minimum Quantity Set
• Minimum Quantity Set (Asset)
• Total Estimated Quantity

Parts History

We added the following filters and columns:

• Consumed By Asset filter
• Consumed By Asset column

We also moved the Source filter below the storage location filters for improved usability.

Reading Values

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Requisitions

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Tasks

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Upcoming Checklists

For users with the Reports > Advanced Reporting permission, we added the following new columns:

• Component Id
• Component Slot Id
• Root Component Id
• Root Component Slot Id

Users

We added the following columns:

• ShoreMfaDeviceAttached (date)
• AssetMfaDeviceAttached (date)
• ShoreMfaDeviceAttachedBy (user)
• AssetMfaDeviceAttachedBy (user)
• MfaDeviceRequiredOnShore (boolean)
• MfaDeviceRequiredOnAsset (boolean)

Helm CONNECT Permissions

In this release, we made the following changes to the permissions on the Setup > Users > Roles tab.

Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Barge Requests

We added a new permission that allows users to approve requests in the Request Manager for barges created on the go.

This permission will not be turned on at the tenant level by default. However, users can ask their account manager to turn it on.

Setup > Request Manager > Request > Barge

We added a new permission that allows users to add barges or attached assets temporarily from a Pick Up event and raise a request in Request Manager for approval.

This permission will not be turned on at the tenant level by default. However, users can ask their account manager to turn it on.

Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes > Multi Crew Changes

We added a new permission that allows users to access the Multi Crew Change button onboard, which now appears alongside the Single Crew Change button.

This permission will be turned on automatically for any tenant or role that already has one of the following permissions:

• Onboard
• Onboard > Personnel
• Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes
• Onboard > Personnel > Crew Changes > Single Crew Changes

Inventory > Settings > Can Edit Min Max

We added a new permission that allows users to edit Min or Max values in Inventory > Parts.

This permission will be turned on automatically for any role that already has the Inventory > Settings > Edit Inventory - Parts turned on.

Inventory > Settings > Can Edit Default Location

We added a new permission that allows users to edit the default location in Inventory > Parts.

This permission will be turned on automatically for any role that already has the Inventory > Settings > Edit Inventory - Parts permission turned on.

Inventory > Settings > Can Edit Default Part Warehouses

We added a new permission that allows users to select a default part warehouse asset in the primary asset detail page.

This permission will be turned on automatically for any role that already has the Management > Assets > Assets > Details > Edit permission turned on.

Inventory > Settings > Can Consume Parts From Other Assets

We added a new permission that allows users to select other assets in Part Usage items for inspection checklists, maintenance checklists, or forms.

This permission will be turned on automatically for any role that already has one of the following permissions:

• Onboard > Logs > any Space tab
• Onboard > Logs > History
• Onboard > Forms > Library
• Onboard > Forms > History
• Onboard > Overview > To Do
• Maintenance > Overview > Advanced Search > Advanced Search
• Compliance > Forms > Submitted
• Compliance > Forms > Library
• Compliance > Forms > History

Reports > Advanced Reporting

We added a new permission that allows users to access the IDs of components in any report where components appear.

This permission will not be turned on at the tenant level by default. However, users can ask their account manager to turn it on.

Setup > Users > Roles > Can assign built-in Admin role

We added a new permission that allows users to assign the built-in Admin role when editing users on the Setup > Users > Edit tab.

This permission will be turned on automatically at the tenant level and for any role that already has the Setup > Users > Users > Edit permission.

My Helm > Profile > Security

We added a new permission that allows users to access the Security tab under My Helm > Profile.

This permission will be turned on automatically at the tenant level. However, it will only be turned on automatically for roles that already have the My Helm or My Helm > Profile permission.

Setup > Users > Administer other users MFA

We added a new permission that allows users to view and manage other users’ MFA devices. This permission is only available to users with the Setup > Users > Edit permission.

This permission will be available on the Roles tab but will not be turned on by default for any roles. Roles that already have the Setup > Users permission will still have all other related permissions turned on, but administrators will need to manually turn on this new permission for any role that needs it.

Helm CONNECT API

We made the following changes to the Helm CONNECT API in this release. For more details, please refer to our API documentation.

api/v1/jobs/users/CreateOrUpdateUser

We added support for setting the following fields via this endpoint:

"RequireMfaForShore": <Boolean>

"RequireMfaForAsset": <Boolean>

api/v1/jobs/users/FindUsers

We added the following fields to the response:

"RequireMfaForShore": <Boolean>

"RequireMfaForAsset": <Boolean>

"ShoreMfaDeviceAttached": <DateTime>

"ShoreMfaDeviceAttachedBy": <Guid>

"AssetMfaDeviceAttached": <DateTime>

"AssetMfaDeviceAttachedBy": <Guid>

api/v2/public/assettypes

We added the following field:

"IsWarehouse": <Boolean>

api/v2/public/forms

We added the following fields to the ItemValues > Subtotals section of the response:

"Asset": { "Id": <Guid>, "Name": <String> }

Updates

7.1.32.156

We fixed an issue that temporarily disabled the dashboards in Helm Analytics. All dashboards are now working as expected.

Affected version: 1.32

Affected products: Helm Analytics

7.1.32.155

As part of ongoing maintenance, this update included some backend server improvements.

Affected versions: All

Affected products: All

7.1.32.154

We improved performance when updating an account's name or number on the Setup > Sales > Companies tab, especially for accounts linked to thousands of existing orders.

Affected version: 1.32

Affected products: Helm CONNECT Jobs

7.1.32.153

We fixed an issue on the Onboard > Logs > Logbook tab where favorite event and activity types were not appearing as expected.

Affected version: 1.32

Affected products: Logbook Module

7.1.32.152

As part of ongoing maintenance, this update included some backend server improvements.

Affected versions: All

Affected products: All

7.1.32.151

As part of ongoing maintenance, this update included some backend server improvements.

Affected versions: All

Affected products: All

7.1.32.148

We fixed an issue on the Onboard > Logs > Logbook tab that displayed the total fluid amount on a Fluid Reading event instead of the changed amount.

Affected versions: 1.30 and later

Affected products: Logbook Module

1.32.147

We fixed an issue on the Setup > Users > Users tab where the Save Changes prompt appeared when no changes had been made.

Affected version: 1.32

Affected products: Platform