Position Reference Systems News

With the ongoing development of deepwater pre-salt plays and a decreased demand on local content in tankers and other vessels, Brazilian national operator Petrobras and other super-majors have been looking abroad for better rates and reliable operators of shuttle tankers. Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil spoke to Peter Liew, Global Director – Mid Size Tankers, Crude Shipping, about AET Tankers’ history and its operations in Brazil.AET (formerly American Eagle Tankers) was founded in Houston in 1994 primarily to conduct lightering operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The company’s fleet grew to 32 vessels (mainly Aframax tankers but also two VLCCs) by 2003, when acquired by MISC Berhad.

The SMM 2018 scheduled to take place September 4-7, 2018, in Hamburg, Germany, is held every two years and is the traditional launching platform for a variety of commercial shipping and shipbuilding technologies. Five new marine technologies to look for in Hamburg include:Dredging TechCompany: HydrexBooth: B7.505Product: Dredging innovationHydrex will unveil a new concept developed to protect the marine environment from the spread of contaminated sediments during dredging operations.

C-Nav, a division of C & C Technologies an Oceaneering International Company providing dynamic DGNSS Precise Point Positioning systems, has introduced a newly upgraded version of its C-Scape software. C-Scape provides independent, real-time monitoring of dynamic positioning (DP) systems, while simultaneously providing operations overview of other vessels infield and subsea infrastructures via multilayer AutoCAD files. C-Scape blends multiple sensor inputs for position quality assurance/quality control and is suitable for most dynamically positioned vessels, including drilling rigs and ships.

Following its inauguration ceremony in Rotterdam on February 27, 2015, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit will start its first job offshore Norway this summer with an integrated Dynamic Positioning (DP) and manoeuvring system based on state-of-the art Kongsberg Maritime technology. The Kongsberg Maritime delivery includes forward and aft bridge systems in addition to an extensive automation network and the HiPAP subsea position reference system. Eight years in the making, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit single-lift vessel is the largest construction vessel in the world.

The modern offshore maritime industry heavily relies on different classes of DP vessels, from OSVs to Drillships and Tankers, almost all vessels serving the oil and gas industry need to be DP capable in order to safely operate offshore. The massive growth experienced in Brazil due to the uncorking of huge deepwater pre-salt plays has caused a steady demand for new ships, rigs and vessels, maritime officers and DP operators in the country. Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil talks to Mauricio Santos, C-MAR Country Manager, about the reality of DP training in Brazil. C-MAR is a global provider of manpower, engineering and support services to the maritime and offshore sectors.

Kongsberg Maritime inform it has been contracted to deliver substantial technology packages for ten new pipelaying vessels ordered by Brazilian multinational energy corporation, Petrobras. In contracts valued approx. NOK 118 Million, the scope of supply includes Kongsberg Maritime's leading offshore vessel technology including Dynamic Positioning (DP), position reference systems, propulsion control and automation. Six 550-tonne laying tension capacity pipelayers will be built at IHC Merwede in The Netherlands for delivery in 2015 and 2016.

Kongsberg Maritime has been chosen to deliver substantial technology packages for ten new pipelaying vessels ordered by Brazilian multinational energy corporation, Petrobras. In contracts valued approx. NOK 118 Million, the scope of supply includes Kongsberg Maritime’s offshore vessel technology including Dynamic Positioning (DP), position reference systems, propulsion control and automation. Six 550-tonne laying tension capacity pipelayers will be built at IHC Merwede in The Netherlands for delivery in 2015 and 2016. Three of the vessels, for Subsea 7, are identical designs to the recently launched ‘Seven Waves’, and will feature the same K-POS DP22 dual redundant DP system including HiPAP acoustic positioning system and other position reference systems from Kongsberg Maritime.

Kongsberg Maritime informs that its latest version of K-Sim DP, a Dynamic Positioning (DP) Manoeuvring simulator, has received Class A Certification from Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This makes it compliant with the highest DNV standard for DP simulators according to Standard of Certification of Maritime Simulators number 2.14 (January 2011). The manufacturers explain that the K-Sim DP Manoeuvring is the most advanced in a long line of Dynamic Positioning simulators developed by Kongsberg Maritime.

The latest version of K-Sim DP, a Dynamic Positioning (DP) Maneuvering simulator from Kongsberg Maritime, has received Class A Certification from Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This makes it compliant with the highest DNV standard for DP simulators according to Standard of Certification of Maritime Simulators number 2.14 (January 2011). K-Sim DP Maneuvering is the most advanced in a long line of Dynamic Positioning simulators developed by Kongsberg Maritime. It is built on the same…

Kongsberg Seatex launched SpotTrack, a multi-target laser based relative position reference system. SpotTrack delivers accurate range and bearing measurements and is primarily intended for Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations. Kongsberg Describes SpotTrack as a robust, lightweight, motion stabilized rotating laser sensor offering precision range and bearing readings to one or multiple retro-reflective targets. As a multi-target sensor, SpotTrack uses an advanced detection system and tracking algorithms for true target recognition – minimizing lock-on to false reflections.

Kongsberg was awarded an offshore integrated monitoring and control system contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The contract covers deliveries to four Transocean owned newbuild drillships, with an option for Kongsberg to deliver products and services for six more drillships. "We call this a 'full picture' solution, as it includes dynamic positioning, position reference systems, thruster control, integrated automation systems, riser management and environmental monitoring within the same project.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published “Guidance on RADius Relative Positioning System” (IMCA M 224) describing the RADius microwave radar system. The development of dynamic positioning (DP) systems has grown over the past 35 years, with reliable and robust methods of positioning essential for safe vessel operations at offshore installations. This growth has in turn stimulated the development of DP position measurement sensors which have become more sophisticated as technology has allowed. “This new document is produced by IMCA as an aid to members and others using position reference systems and forms part of a series of documents on the available systems,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.

Norman ASA, a global security provider, announce an OEM agreement to supply the Norman SCADA Protection (NSP) system to Kongsberg Maritime of Norway who will use the NSP security solution in its information technology maritime systems. Kongsberg Maritime is a global supplier of maritime systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, cargo management and level sensors, maritime training simulators and position reference systems. With recent Stuxnet malware attacks on industrial software and systems, manufacturers, utilities and industries are seeking sophisticated security solutions to protect SCADA systems used for monitoring and control of industrial infrastructure.

Integrated subsea contractor Hallin Marine has expanded its fleet with the purchase of the dynamically positioned (DP2) vessel the Penrith. Hallin already knows the 67 metre Penrith well, having operated the vessel since its launch in 2008 under a time charter from owners Seacor Marine. Hallin believes the purchase of the Penrith from Seacor for an undisclosed sum will ensure it has total control of the vessel and allow it to offer clients competitive vessel packages, including its range of air diving systems, remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and survey equipment.

Kongsberg Seatex, a specialist in position reference systems, has unveiled the latest additions to its DPS (Differential Position Sensor) product portfolio. Two new products, DPS 110 and DPS 112, have been developed to utilize the new Global Satellite Based Augmentation System (Global SBAS) introduced by the navigation specialist Fugro SeaSTAR AS, the SeaSTAR SGG service. This new high performance navigation service offers corrections to both GPS and GLONASS that enables sub-meter accuracy with worldwide reach.

Power systems specialist Rolls-Royce now derives nearly $1.5 billion of total annual sales of $8.7 billion from the marine market, and an important element of its growth strategy in the marine domain is the development of its electrical capabilities, products and technology. The increasing use of electrical drives and other sub-systems, and a move towards highly automated, integrated shipboard networks, is evident in both the commercial and naval sectors, in the technology-intensive, specialized vessel categories which form the group's heartland business areas. The success of electrical power and propulsion systems in application to high capacity cruise vessels has proved to be one of the most significant technological developments in commercial shipping over the past decade and a half…

Kongsberg Maritime has completed the mid-life refit of the hydrographic survey equipment onboard the (Oceanographic Research Vessel) ‘B.I.O Hesperides’. The vessel, originally commissioned in 1991 and based in the Antarctic seas for 6 months a year, was one of the first large survey equipment installations for KONGSBERG. Likewise, this is the first full mid-life refit of survey equipment carried out by the company. The survey package supplied and installed by Kongsberg Maritime was based on the EM120 1°x2° multibeam echosounder. The EM120 is a tried and tested multibeam sounder for deep water mapping with the 12 kHz operating frequency being the optimum choice in order to achieve efficient mapping of larger ocean areas.

Imagine being able to take something as a simple as a barge, and convert it into a highly sophisticated dynamically positioned vessel. Now, imagine this conversion being done dockside, in the water, in a week's time. Thrustmaster's deck-mounted Portable Dynamic Positioning System (PDPS) eliminates the need for dry-docking, structural changes to the vessel, and only takes a minimal amount of deck space, so a vessel can be ready to go with a minimal amount of down time. The Arctic Discoverer was the first vessel on which a Thrustmaster portable DP system was installed in 1988, and the Thrustmaster 4 x 500-hp portable DP system was used by Nippon Salvage on its 270 x 85 x 17-ft. (82.2 x 25.9 x 5.1-m) deck barge, which has been outfitted for reel pipelay.

Paul English, sales and business development manager for Alstom's Marine and Offshore activities, looks back at the company's role in the development of Dynamic Positioning Systems. In recent years, dynamic positioning (DP) systems have become almost as accepted a feature of certain types of marine and offshore vessels as autopilot. DP — which automatically controls a ship's heading and station keeping (either a fixed or moving target) while minimizing thruster activity — has considerably expanded the options for shipowners/operators whose vessels remain at sea for long periods of time, often in deep water and in areas where laying anchors is either not an option due to seabed structures, or impractical because of timescales.