Autoload News

Canadian firm Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) in cooperation with its Norwegian reseller, Coastdesign Norway (CDN), has developed an offshore stability software for jack-up vessels called - the Autoload® - Jack Up version and has won a contract to install the solution onboard Seaway 7’s first self-propelled jack-up vessel, VIND 1. Autoload is also installed onboard their entire fleet of vessels which include open deck semi-submersible heavy transportation vessels, cable lay, heavy lift crane installation, and Installation support vessels, Autoship Systems said.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) of Vancouver, Canada announced that its onboard stability software Autoload is celebrating 25 years in the marine loading computer market. Installed on thousands of ships, rigs and platforms worldwide, Autoload can be found onboard virtually every type of vessel. ASC said it adopted a simple yet sophisticated philosophy for developing Autoload from the start: the program must be simple to use yet apply accurate mathematical analyses to all calculations.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) of Vancouver, Canada announced the installation of its Autoload onboard stability software on Gjøa, one of the largest projects in the North Sea today. Gjøa's recoverable reserves are approximately 82 million barrels of oil and condensate and roughly 40 billion standard cubic metres of gas. More than 200 km of pipeline are to be laid at Gjøa as well as the cable that is going to supply the platform with power from shore. It will be the first floating platform to get its electricity from the mainland. This will mean a yearly reduction in emissions to the environment of 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Autoload is a real time monitoring and simulation tool for planning vessel stability.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) of Vancouver, Canada announced the sale of their onboard stability software, Autoload, to Olympic Shipping AS for their latest environmentally friendly new-build, Olympic Zeus. Olympic Zeus is an anchor handling tug supply construction vessel designed by Ulstein Design AS and one of the biggest vessels of this type built by Ulstein Verft AS. Developed for advanced operations in deep sea conditions, Olympic Zeus operates with a new type of optimum fuel saving hybrid propulsion machinery which was developed by Ulstein Design AS.

Autoship Systems Corporation announced that Edison Chouset Offshore LLC (ECO) of Galliano, LA, USA has chosen to have their offshore fleet of vessels outfitted with the Autoload onboard stability program. “The delivery of the Autoload software will be a staged roll-out for the ECO fleet. The initial install is set for 68 of the latest-delivered and soon-to-be delivered vessels. Staging after this group will be the remainder of the ECO deepwater fleet, inclusive of PSVs, AHTSVs and Deep Water Support Vessels. When the effort is completed, over 150 ECO vessels will be fitted with the Autoload software.” stated Gary Rook, Technical Director for ECO.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) said its new Autoload-Rig and Autoload 6.0 programs have enjoyed significant early sales. M/T Seraya Spirit of Teekay Shipping Ltd. industry, including a completely new interface developed from rig operator recommendations. vessels as well – and thus “Autoload 6.0” followed soon after. flexibility. accurate damage simulation). direction – it calculates real shift of free surface in slack tanks according to any change in heel or trim. separate view frame monitors the actual maxVCG curve relative to the current condition (draft/vcg). Real-time sensor data is used for tank contents, drafts, and wind. taken for mooring and riser tension, while different criteria are used for different modes of operation.

Not all stability software is made equal. Even if all commonly available stability programs were of the same quality, virtually all of them are designed first and foremost for conventional vessels - and it's no secret that the unique characteristics of offshore platforms demand capabilities not usually required for ships. Rig stability is a very critical issue, and it can also be quite complex. What rig operators need is software that can constantly monitor and predict stability in any combination of circumstances; but what they don't need is an interface as complex as the problem. Enter Autoload Rig. Only recently released, yet already installed on more then 15 platforms, Autoload has also been chosen for the biggest floating rig ever built: Thunderhorse.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) has developed a complete CAD/CAM suite to meet the CAD/CAM needs in marine vessel design and construction, including two key programs in the CAD/CAM suite: Autostructure 3.0 and Production Manager 3.0. Autostructure and Production Manager are key components in the Autoship CAD/CAM suite, offering shipyards complete solutions in structural design, pre-construction drawing preparation and part nesting. Autostructure is used to create a 3D model of a vessel structure and to output the parts of that model in CAD format. The CAD representation can be used either to prepare construction drawings or for input to NC cutting processors.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) announced that their Norwegian Dealer, Coastdesign, Norway (CDN), has received 10 new orders from Solstad Offshore ASA for Autoload onboard stability software. Installations will be onboard vessels; Normand Jarl, Normand Drott, Normand Titan, Normand Trym, Normand Atlantic, Normand Borg, Normand Mjolne, Normand Draupne, Normand Skarven and Normand Seven. Autoload is currently installed onboard 23 Solstad vessels. Normand Seven, delivered to Solstad Offshore in July, is the largest offshore construction vessel (OCV) ever built by Ulstein Verft in Norway. It is a Vik-Sanvik VS 4220 OCV design and was voted Ship of the Year at the 2007 Norshipping Tradeshow in Norway. The vessel is 130m long and 28m wide with a bridge at a size of 400m2.

Autoship Systems Corp. of Vancouver, Canada, along with its partner Coastdesign, Norway have recently signed a contract with Kongsberg Simrad AS for the development of an interface between Autoship's Autoload program and Simrad's Vessel Control System (VCS). Autoload is a DNV type-approved onboard stability and strength monitoring program, while VCS includes dynamic positioning and joystick-control systems, position mooring, thruster control and vessel automation systems. The premiere application of the VCS/Autoload combination will be installed on a drilling rig owned by Sedco Forex Offshore — the offshore contract drilling business owned by Schlumberger.

Based in Washington, D.C., Military Sealift Command (MSC) has chosen Autoship Systems' onboard stability program Autoload for their vessels. Autoload allows vessel operators to perform proper trim stability and strength calculations for any load calculations for any load condition before departing port and at anytime while at sea. The main window displays the profile, plan and body plan views of the ship in the loaded condition, as well as calculated hydrostatic values and any alarms that may occur. Based on Autoship's Autohydro hydrostatic engine, Autoload calculates stability and strength as fuel and consumables are used, helps optimize ballast, and evaluates strength and stability in a damaged or grounded condition.