The start of every year calls for time to reflect on the last. The offshore and marine industry can look back on 2016 as one of the most bruising in recent memory. The downturn has been tough and drawn out, with increased divestment, more stringent environmental regulations and a prolonged shipbuilding cycle that has resulted in overcapacity.
Subsea operations specialist Swire Seabed AS purchases a subsea vessel as part of its growth strategy. The vessel was delivered to Swire Seabed in December and will be working on global AUV operations as part of a six-year contract.
Subsea operations specialist, Swire Seabed AS has taken delivery of its fourth subsea vessel, Seabed Constructor.
Swire Seabed has secured a six-year contract for Seabed Constructor with UK based Ocean Infinity. The vessel will be carrying out AUV based survey and construction support operations on a global basis. The vessel is a multi-functional subsea support and construction vessel of MT6022 MK II design. 115 meters in length and with a beam of 22 meters, Seabed Constructor is equipped with a 250-tonne crane and a free deck space of 1,300 square meters.
“The decision to invest in this high quality subsea vessel is part of Swire Seabed’s long-term growth strategy. Our contract with Ocean Infinity enables the Company to establish a survey department that can process and present large quantities of high quality data to our clients. Despite the challenging times in the offshore industry, the strength of our parent company, Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), with support from the rest of the Swire Group, allows Swire Seabed to continue investing in new assets and facilitating the company’s development and expansion in both current and new market segments,” says CEO, Swire Seabed, Arvid Pettersen.
Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Swire Seabed is a fully owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore, a diversified marine services conglomerate. Swire Seabed prides itself on its strong track record of undertaking a wide range of subsea operations and its team of highly experienced onshore and offshore specialists.
Swire Seabed’s other subsea vessels are Seabed Worker, Seabed Supporter and Seabed Prince. These versatile and modern vessels are designed to perform a diverse range of light construction, IMR and survey work scopes in both the Oil & Gas and renewables sector. All vessels are equipped with heavy-duty WROVs (work class ROVs), some with water depth capacity of 6,000 meters, and have a track record for executing specialist ultra-deep water cargo recoveries at depths well beyond 4,000 meters. All three vessels are all contracted for work in survey and construction projects on a long-term basis.
Swire Seabed also owns several highly sophisticated mobile assets including two 3,000-metre rated Kystdesign Supporter WROV systems, a 6,000-metre depth rated Argus Bathysaurus XL WROV, a Sperre Sub-fighter 15k Observation ROV and Seabed Excavator, a cutting-edge multi-purpose subsea tool carrier and dredging vehicle.
Technip’s latest newbuild, the diving support vessel (DSV) Deep Explorer, was officially named on Saturday November 12, in Norway. The traditional naming ceremony was held at VARD’s Langsten shipyard. The vessel godmother was Heidi Brovoll-Bø, wife of Knut Bø, President of Technip’s North Sea Canada region.
The vessel hull was built by Vard Tulcea shipyard in Romania, and then towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for equipment outfitting and commissioning. The vessel features a state-of-the-art 24-man twin bell saturated dive system rated to 350m. The dive system was designed, built and commissioned by JFD, part of James Fisher and Sons plc.
Image courtesy: Technip
Deep Explorer is a DP3 class DSV, purpose-designed and certified for subsea projects in the demanding North Sea Canada market. She is the most modern and versatile DSV in the world, thanks to her latest technology diving control system, 400 Te box boom crane, large deck area, working moonpool and work-class ROVs*. Deep Explorer is capable of working globally on diving and subsea construction projects, even in extreme weather conditions. She will commence operational duties in 2017.
Bruno Faure, Technip’s Senior Vice President Subsea Projects and Operations, said: “This event marks an important milestone in this three-year project to design, build and deliver this impressive fantastic new ship. We are proud to welcome the Deep Explorer, an impressive key asset for the Technip fleet and for our clients. My sincere thanks to all those in Technip and our partner companies who have contributed to this successful project.”
Yard Director and Senior Vice President at Vard Langsten, Dag Vikestrand, commented: “It has been a great honor for us in VARD to be a part of this exciting project. Deep Explorer represents a technological quantum leap, thanks to the excellent teamwork between Technip, JFD and VARD. The knowledge, skills and experience of all parties involved have been key factors in achieving the design and build of this impressive vessel.”
Technip operates a leading-edge fleet of 18 vessels (with another 4 under construction) specialized in pipeline installation and subsea construction on all continents.
* ROVs : Remotely Operated Vehicles
Leading marine transportation provider and the USA’s largest operator of OSVs, Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), has teamed up with Damen to build a total of 13 heavy duty mooring assistance and escort tugs. These will be deployed on two major maritime projects for which ECO has recently won contracts, based in part on the use of well-proven Damen tug designs. The vessels will be built using ECO’s highly regarded network of five shipyards and Damen’s support and expertise.
Image courtesy: Damen
The first of these is a contract that ECO won earlier this year with a new Corpus Christi based LNG export terminal. The agreement is for the supply of four escort tugs with a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, to operate at this new LNG terminal in Texas, which is currently under construction. The Damen tugs will be of the well proven escort/mooring ASD 3212 design.
More recently, ECO has won a high profile, long term contract in Alaska. ECO is taking over the ship escort-response duties out of Valdez, Prince William Sound, from July 2018, for which it will require nine, high-powered escort tugs. For this highly environmentally-sensitive project, Damen and ECO will work together to deliver four more ASD 3212 tugs with a bollard pull of 70 tonnes each and five of the most powerful ASD tugs ever built; the ASD 4517 with a bollard pull of 150+ tonnes, is a joint Damen and ECO developed escort tug specifically designed for the sometimes challenging weather conditions in the Prince William Sound.
“Chouest was pleased to have this opportunity to take Damen’s proven hull design and helped create a new, state-of-the-art escort design representing the most powerful ASD tug ever designed or built,” said Gary Chouest, President/CEO of Edison Chouest Offshore.
In total ECO is now investing in the construction of a total of 13 Damen-designed tugs at its shipyards.
In what is a difficult period for the maritime industry, ECO and Damen have teamed up to ensure that the most capable and technologically-advanced tugs are available to meet the needs of both of these challenging, but exciting projects.
The contract has been handled by Damen’s new Area Support office in Houston, which opened on 1 August 2016. Jan van Hogerwou, General Manager New Construction Damen Area Support North America, is delighted to be able to announce this latest success for the Damen Shipyards Group in the United States. “Within just three months Damen has won orders for the construction of 27 tugs at four different US Shipyards, and we have only just begun!”
The world’s largest jack-up vessel Seajacks Scylla, has recently visited the Rotterdam Offshore Group (ROG) terminal in the Waalhaven, after her first successful assignment on phase 1 of the Veja Mate Offshore Windpark project.
Damen Shipyards Group has announced a new line of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHD). The new product range, comprising of the Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 4000 and 5600 vessels, was introduced in response to extensive market research and customer consultation. The MAD vessels are expected to be well received by an aggregate industry facing rising demand and an aging fleet.
Photo courtesy: Damen
Designed in collaboration with Maritime Design and Engineering Services (MD&ES), an established name known for its innovative approach, the MAD 4000 and 5600 are welcome additions to Damen’s Trailing Suction Hopper Dredging portfolio. For offshore aggregate operations, the new vessels will be able to work in North Sea conditions up to depths of -60 meters. These capabilities allow operators to mine sand and gravel in deeper waters, farther from shore than preceding models.
Damen has invested considerably in research and development for the new MAD vessels, having observed an increase in demand for civil construction supplies deriving from an overall improving economy. The development aims at offering industry advanced technology, well suited to existing ports and delivering more uptime at sea.
Olivier Marcus, Damen’s Product Director Dredging comments: “We’ve tailored the technical specifications of the designs in line with the port infrastructure in the region in which the dredgers will operate.
“Furthermore, we’ve paid close attention to seakeeping behaviour in order to ensure the vessels can operate comfortably and safely, even in harsh weather conditions.”
Unlike traditional dredgers, the bow shape of the MAD vessels allows them to operate in adverse weather conditions. The shape is based on a proven Damen design applied to renowned vessels such as the Damen Offshore Carrier (DOC) and Platform Supply Vessel (PSV). In addition to improved seakeeping behavior, the bow shape also protects the sand and gravel cargo from green water ingress.
The MAD vessels have been developed with tomorrow in mind, states Mr. Marcus: “These vessels are future proof. Featuring Tier III engines and, requiring no ballast water, fully compliant with the latest IMO regulations, these dredgers are looking forwards. On top of that the design also takes into account the possible future requirement for advanced automation.”
Close attention has been paid to incorporating the most robust equipment for operations in harsh environments. A submerged, wear-resistant Damen dredge pump facilitates the loading of sand and gravel aboard the vessel. Once onboard, the aggregate then passes through the heavy-duty dredgers’ screening towers, where giant sieves allow for a better assessment and classification of the mined material. Following this, it is stored and de-watered in the vessel’s hopper – with a capacity of either 4,000 or 5,600 m3 – hence the categorisation of the two types of MAD. The operation is supported by state-of-the-art, optimised instrumentation, offering feedback throughout the entire process.
Upon arrival to port, the vessels’ fully automated clamshell system unloads the material onto a conveyer belt. The system conceived of by the design is a flexible one, suitable for use in varying locations.
Mr. Marcus continues: “With a single vessel you can do almost everything. You can go out, get the material, classify it, dry it and deliver it to location. It is the first standardised design in the world with such a scope.”
Standardized the design may well be, but it is also versatile and takes into account the need for customization and multi-role functionality. “A number of options exist in order to cater to differing client needs,” states Mr. Marcus. “The vessel can be supplied with bottom doors if required – which will offer additional versatility in case it is required to perform differing operations. It can also receive spud poles, for example. And, should the client wish to scale up at any point, the MAD 4,000 can easily be converted into a MAD 5,600 with a simple section addition.”
Concluding, Mr. Marcus says, “The MAD concept is one that tackles not only the needs of today, but of tomorrow also. We have developed a vessel that represents the lowest possible euro to cubic metre ratio. It is lightweight, with an optimised, efficient propulsion train, minimised hydraulic usage and offers both low and easy maintenance. We are very much looking forward to seeing it in action.”
Greater use of LNG as fuel would reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, but barriers remain to its widespread adoption. One challenge is the varying compositions of LNG fuel globally, which can lead to engine damage and failure. DNV GL has now addressed this by developing a new online PKI Methane Number Calculator1 to match fuel quality with an engine’s requirements, and which can also support the development of an international standard. The PKI Methane Number Calculator can be applied to a wide range of engine types and used across the entire supply chain by engine manufacturers, ship and truck owners, traders, as well as international policy makers on LNG.
Viking Lady. Image courtesy DNV GL
Engine knock is characterized by auto-ignition of the unburned fuel mixture, known as the end gas, ahead of the propagating flame in the engine cylinder. DNV GL has developed a verified algorithm to quantify the effect of LNG quality on engine knock, and thus to help LNG users ensure safe and efficient engine operations. The algorithm has been shown to give a significantly more accurate reflection of the impact of variations in fuel quality on engine knock than traditional tools. An extra advantage is that the algorithm can be readily incorporated into an engine-control system to maximize knock-free performance when supplied with a wide range of fuel.
DNV GL’s Senior Vice President, Oil & Gas, Liv Hovem, says: “As LNG is produced at different locations around the world, using an assortment of production technologies, its composition can vary considerably. Determining its fitness-for-purpose can be difficult and the consequences of mismatching fuel quality to a specific ship engine can cause potentially dangerous effects such as significant loss of performance, engine shutdown and even damage. Knowledge of the knock characteristics of LNG fuels is therefore crucial for suppliers and traders to provide reliable and efficient products and to break down the perceived barriers of adopting LNG.”
“DNV GL’s PKI Methane Number Calculator applies a generic method to quantify the knock resistance of LNG. The methodology behind the knock characterization calculator has been developed with an eye towards serving as the basis for a robust standard,” says Johan Knijp, Head of Gas Quality and Energy Transition, DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “The user-friendly tool is based on the physical and chemical processes that govern knock and the methodology behind the tool can be applied to a wide variety of new and current marine and land-based engine types. Together with an international industrial consortium, the calculator is currently being extended to cover this full range of engines. Market analyses using the tool to characterize the range of fuel qualities can be used by the entire supply chain, by engine manufacturers, ship and truck owners, by traders and by international policy makers on LNG.”
The knock resistance of LNG is characterized by a methane number, similar to the octane number used in gasoline engines. Users of the tool simply enter LNG composition information such as nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane, and n-butane, and the tool calculates a PKI methane number, which can be matched with the engine specification.
DNV GL has also launched a joint industry project (JIP) to develop tools to support customers in investment decisions on the design of small-scale LNG distribution infrastructure. The project will perform economic and supply chain optimization analyses to improve knowledge on LNG transportation, storage, quality, and safety. DNV GL also recently undertook a study on the LNG market in the EU as part of its efforts to drive the development of an EU-wide network of LNG refueling points.
Liv Hovem adds: “Step by step DNV GL is facilitating the removal of barriers hindering the safe and efficient adoption of LNG as fuel and the creation of an open and free LNG marketplace. Our cross-industry collaborations in this arena have already seen the development of a number of recommended practices relating to gas quality and bunkering. Our collaborative efforts will go a long way to increase knowledge and remove any remaining concerns about the adoption and application of LNG as a viable fuel for the future.”
Underwater technology company, Sonardyne International Ltd, has appointed Scandinavian Aerospace and Industry AB (SAI) as a reseller of its maritime security products in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and surrounding territories.
Based in Tyresö, Sweden, SAI supplies, supports and integrates commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies for air, land and sea applications. It works with industrial and defense organizations across Scandinavia including harbor authorities, naval forces, maritime enforcement agencies and shipyards. Under the terms of the new agreement, SAI will now promote Sonardyne’s family of underwater security products; Sentinel IDS, NOAS and high resolution mine hunting sonar, Solstice.
Sonardyne has appointed Scandinavian Aerospace and Industry AB as a reseller of its maritime security products in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and surrounding territories.
Sentinel is the security industry’s most widely deployed intruder detection sonar, capable of reliably detecting, tracking and classifying divers and small underwater vehicles approaching a protected asset. Whether it is safeguarding a critical national infrastructure facility, strategic port or naval vessel at anchor, Sentinel provides a rapidly deployable, 360° underwater security solution for any scenario.
SAI is now amongst the first of Sonardyne’s resellers to have the opportunity to market the recently introduced Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar – NOAS. Installed in the bow of a vessel, 2D and 3D sonar arrays scan the water column looking for navigation hazards that could result in a collision or grounding. The system can be used as a standalone navigation aid or integrated into a vessel’s existing bridge management system.
Commenting on the appointment, Hans Sandström, Business Development Director with SAI said that the company was delighted to be adding Sonardyne to their portfolio of maritime surveillance capabilities. He said, “For many organizations, the underwater domain remains a vulnerability in their security and navigation capabilities. However with technologies such as Sentinel now available to us, it is one we can now help our clients to close.”
Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) has announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has made an offer to acquire the 50% shareholding in Seaway Heavy Lifting Holding Limited currently owned by K&S Baltic Offshore (Cyprus) Limited.
Kongsberg Maritime has launched a new Dynamic Positioning (DP) Maintenance Refresher Course for personnel involved in the maintenance of a vessel’s DP System. The new two-day course will be available at KONGSBERG training centers globally and has been developed to provide the technical and refresher training as recommended in the latest International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) guidelines (M117 Rev.2) in addition to compliance with IMO-STCW Part B section B-V/f.
The first Dynamic Positioning (DP) Maintenance Refresher course took place last week at Kongsberg Maritime’s training center in Kongsberg, Norway. Kongsberg Maritime Ltd’s Aberdeen training center will host its first Dynamic Positioning (DP) Maintenance Refresher course starting on 18th January, with courses in February, March and April already scheduled to meet predicted demand for this unique training.
The new DP Maintenance Refresher Course directly addresses the latest IMCA guidelines
KONGSBERG’s new DP Maintenance Refresher Course offers in-depth training to reduce the risk of accidents involving the DP system on board and to ensure that Electrical/ Electronic Engineers (ETOs) and maintenance personnel can continue to identify faults and perform periodic maintenance in a competent and safe manner. The course is also suitable for personnel who have not worked with a DP system for a long period or are due to work with a vessel that has been upgraded from legacy KONGSBERG DP systems to the current generation K-Pos DP systems and K-Master workstations.
A task-centered approach created in accordance with DNV-GL standard ST-0008 Learning Programs, the DP Maintenance Refresher Course combines theoretical lessons and practical exercises, with the main part focused on technical aspects and fault finding. The technical bridge in the training center will be used for theoretical and practical exercises. Participants must have previously attended a DP Maintenance course for KONGSBERG systems and in order to benefit fully, participants should have general knowledge of electronics and computer-based control systems.
“Competence and awareness leads to increased operational safety, which is why training has been a core aspect of our work since KONGSBERG led the DP revolution in the 1970s and we are committed to continually improving and updating the course offering at our training centers worldwide,” said Eirik Hagensen, General Manager, Global Customer Training, Kongsberg Maritime. “The new DP Maintenance Refresher Course directly addresses the latest IMCA guidelines while meeting high demand for training on Kongsberg Maritime’s latest generation of DP systems.”
The UK’s Automated Ships Ltd (an M Subs Ltd subsidiary) and Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build the world’s first unmanned and fully-automated vessel for offshore operations. In January 2017, Automated Ships Ltd will contract the ‘Hrönn’, which will be designed and built in Norway in cooperation with KONGSBERG. Sea trials will take place in Norway’s newly designated automated vessel test bed in the Trondheim fjord and will be conducted under the auspices of DNV GL and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA). The Hrönn will ultimately be classed and flagged, respectively.
Artists impression of the ‘Hrönn’
Currently, only small unmanned boats are being utilized for near shore operations but there are no technical limitations to constructing large, unmanned and automated systems. The only impediments are regulatory, but with the participation of DNV GL and the NMA, and Norwegian and UK companies and institutions, it will be possible to rapidly and at low-cost be the first to market with a full-size unmanned ship.
Hrönn is a light-duty, offshore utility ship servicing the offshore energy, scientific/hydrographic and offshore fish-farming industries. Its intended uses include but are not limited to: Survey, ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) Launch & Recovery, light intermodal cargo delivery and delivery to offshore installations, and open-water fish farm support. The vessel can also be utilized as a standby vessel, able to provide firefighting support to an offshore platform working in cooperation with manned vessels. Automated Ships Ltd is currently in discussion with several end-users that will act as early-adopters and to establish a base-rate for operations and secure contracts for Hrönn offshore, in the near future.
Hrönn will initially operate and function primarily as a remotely piloted ship, in Man-in-the-Loop Control mode, but will transition to fully automated, and ultimately autonomous operations as the control algorithms are developed concurrently during remotely piloted operations.
Automated Ships Ltd will be the primary integrator, project manager and ship-owner of this world’s first fully automated and unmanned ship for commercial use. The project will leverage existing technology to develop a robust, flexible and low-cost ship to become the market leader and offer not only a capable work-boat but provide an unparalleled R&D asset for the furtherance of this emerging industry sector. KONGSBERG’s role in the project is to deliver all major marine equipment necessary for the design, construction and operation of Hrönn. The leading global maritime technology manufacturer will deliver all systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, satellite and position reference, marine automation and communication. All vessel control systems including K-Pos dynamic positioning, K-Chief automation and K-Bridge ECDIS will be replicated at an Onshore Control Centre, allowing full remote operations of the Hrönn.
“The advantages of unmanned ships are manifold, but primarily center on the safe guarding of life and reduction in the cost of production and operations; removing people from the hazardous environment of at-sea operations and re-employing them on-shore to monitor and operate robotic vessels remotely, along with the significantly decreased cost in constructing ships, will revolutionize the marine industry. Automated Ships Ltd will be at the forefront of that revolution, along with its many Norwegian partners,” said Managing Director Brett A. Phaneuf of Automated Ships Ltd.
“Research, innovation and technology development are at the core of DNV GL's business-development philosophy. In general, we are widely involved in the qualification of new shipping technology. Increased automation combined with remote monitoring and control is an inevitable trend and has the potential to create safer and more efficient transport and operations at sea. This may lead to unmanned ships, as in this case, and the technologies involved also have the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of manned ships in the form of increased decision support and operational assistance. The contract that has been announced today is a brave initiative and a major step towards the realization of these technologies, and we look forward to moving technology frontiers together with all those involved,” said Bjørn Johan Vartdal, Head of DNV GL Maritime Research.
“We are proud and excited to be part of the first project to actually realize the potential of unmanned vessels by supporting the construction of the first full size, fully operational example,” added Stene Førsund, EVP Global Sales & Marketing, Kongsberg Maritime. “The Hrönn is an incredible ship and a great example of KONGSBERG’s commitment to developing autonomous and unmanned vessels. We are involved in several major projects in this field including AUTOSEA, which focuses on integrated sensor technology and fusion, and automated collision avoidance systems. KONGSBERG is also a key stakeholder in the world’s first official autonomous vehicles test bed, which opened this September in the Trondheimsfjord.”
Hrönn is expected to be built by Fjellstrand AS, a Norwegian shipyard with a long history of building state-of-the-art aluminum fast ferries in addition to a number of steel offshore vessels and aluminum work boats. As the builder of the world’s first battery driven car ferry, ‘Ampere’, Fjellstrand AS is well known for taking the lead in maritime innovation and green technology.
“Fjellstrand AS has for years worked within the high-end development of new vessels. To design and build future ships with autonomic technology will be an exciting challenge, and follows the path laid from the recent building of Ampere where technology is pushed forward in good cooperation with partners,” said Morten Berhovde, Technical Director, Fjellstrand AS.
As announced on 23 June 2016, the Board of Directors has tasked the management of A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S to perform a review focusing on the strategic and structural options for the Maersk Group with the objective of generating growth, increasing agilities and synergies and unlocking and maximizing shareholder value with the long-term view.
The main growth focus of A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S going forward will be delivering best in class transportation and logistics services as an integrated Transport & Logistics company. Building on the Group's unique position within container transport and port operations, and significant position in supply chain management and freight forwarding, Transport & Logistics will leverage its leading position through new product offerings, digitalized services and individualized customer solutions.
The Board of Directors expect that the oil and oil related businesses in A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S will require different solutions for future development including separation of entities individually or in combination from A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S in the form of joint-ventures, mergers or listing. Depending on market development and structural opportunities, the objective is to find solutions for the oil and oil related businesses within 24 months.
To enable the new strategic direction the Board of Directors has decided to reorganize A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S' portfolio of businesses into two independent divisions; an integrated Transport & Logistics division and an Energy division. This will ensure focus on driving synergies and developing new products and services in Transport & Logistics as well as focus on separately developing structured solutions for our oil and oil related businesses.
The Board of Directors continues to focus on ensuring a strong capital structure and defined key financial ratio targets in line with an investment grade rating.
Chairman of the Board, Michael Pram Rasmussen says:
"The industries in which we are operating are very different, and both face very different underlying fundamentals and competitive environments. Separating our transport and logistics businesses and our oil and oil related businesses into two independent divisions will enable both to focus on their respective markets. This will increase the strategic flexibility by enhancing synergies between businesses in Transport & Logistics, while ensuring the agility to pursue individual strategic solutions for the oil and oil related businesses".
At a time when the global marine industry is impacted by market fluctuations, over supply, margin pressures and labor shortages, operators are facing increasing challenge to reduce cost and increase operation efficiency. Traditional methods have created data silos and islands of automation, making it difficult to optimize operations across a vessel or systemize across the fleet. Digital technologies such as the Industrial Internet and data analytics can offer great promise. We have all witnessed the transformation of the aviation industry, where data-driven decision is taking the lead. Just as connected planes are making headway in the air, connected ships also can deliver great potential thanks to the predictive ability which can help improve marine operations.
Image credit: GE’s Marine Solutions
The key to unlocking this digital promise is harnessing the power of Big Data. Traditionally, operations data has been confined to equipment silos used essentially in hindsight for trouble-shooting exceptions. In many cases, equipment manufacturers have managed data access. Hence, marine operators were limited in their ability to leverage respective data for informed decisions. However, breaking data silos and connecting the data to decisions can lead to a true transformation of marine operations.
Operational data from critical equipment systems can be analyzed for real-time insights into vessel performance, leading to more informed decisions and enhanced productivity. Predictive analytics can help provide foresight into equipment degradation, therefore giving operators early warnings to correct problems before they occur, sometimes weeks in advance. This will enable a shift from schedule-based to condition-based maintenance. Such shift is especially critical in the offshore energy sector where non-productive time (NPT) is a major source of inefficiency and financial loss. A single drill ship, for example, can incur a loss of $12 million in revenue per year, on average, due to NPT events.
In addition, software also can be used to retain knowledge and experience. Data-driven decisions enable consistent, objective decisions despite diversity in crew expertise. The usual performance variances from shift-to-shift or crew-to-crew will be minimized and enterprise-wide operations will be more predictable.
The opportunity is real — after all, 90 percent of world trade is transported over water. This is why forward-looking marine companies are launching strategic initiatives for advanced software analytics to harness the power of data and get insights to enhance operations. This is where GE can help. GE’s SeaStream* Insight, powered by Predix*, is at the forefront of marine digital solutions. Its analytics and decision enablement capabilities help improve a vessel’s operational efficiency by up to 25 percent and reduce maintenance costs by up to 20 percent.
With the fast-paced changes of globally connected economies and shifting regional opportunities, marine operators need to transform themselves to be efficient and predictable. They need the ability to deploy the right resources at the right opportunity and to monitor operational performance anytime, anywhere — drawing real-time insights from operational data is a critical first step to do this. The evolution towards data-driven decisions could lead to a multitude of operational efficiency benefits and long-term competitive differentiation for marine operators.
* Indicates a trademark of the General Electric Company and/or its subsidiaries.
Author: Tim Schweikert, president & CEO, GE’s Marine Solutions
Allianz Middle East Ship Management and Maritime Craft Services (MCS) have taken delivery of a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 2610. Demonstrating the cooperative relationship between the two companies, the new vessel will offer safe and cost efficient crew transfer services for up to 50 passengers to and from the Abu Dhabi oil fields. The two companies welcomed guests on board the new vessel in a festive celebration during this year’s Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). Business associates and clients were given a tour on board the vessel at the Emirates Palace Marina.
“We are very proud to see another FCS 2610 enter service in the Middle East oil and gas industry,” states Damen Sales Manager Middle East Teun Haverkort. “A great result of 3 companies combining their expertise to reduce operational costs and to create a higher standard in safety and crew comfort.”
Photo credit: Damen
With the vessel available on stock, Damen carried out a number of adaptations to make it OPCO compliant. This meant preparing the vessel – called MCS Allianz Venus – for operations in the Abu Dhabi oil fields, where she will soon start work on her first contract.
The most significant modification was made to the passenger accommodation, says Mr Haverkort: “The passenger capacity has been increased to 50 persons – making for cost effective and safe crew transfer services for the oil and gas industry in the region. This represents a truly viable alternative to helicopter transfers.”
Illustrating this last point even further is the vessel’s 90m2 of deck space, which is big enough to accommodate two 20 foot containers. “The outfitting also included upgrading the 5-man crew accommodation to allow for extended offshore duties.”
Allianz Middle East Ship Management is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Allianz is a maritime service provider and specialises in the provision of marine transportation services to the offshore oil and gas drilling and production industry.
Scotland-based MCS operates an international fleet of tugs and workboats active in the a wide range of sectors that include dredging support and marine construction in addition to crew transfer operations for both the offshore wind and oil and gas industries. MCS has more than 10 years of experience working in the Middle East.
Allianz and MCS have a long working relationship; one that draws upon their operational knowledge and crew transfer experience. The purchase of this new FCS 2610 signifies an extension of their collaborative association.
Damen’s FCS 2610 design showed its first signs of success while performing crew transfer duties for the North Sea offshore wind sector. To this day, the vessel operates at 25 knots and provides operators with safe and swift passenger and cargo transfers.
The vessel’s seakeeping is perhaps the most crucial aspect though – a smooth ride ensuring that offshore personnel reach their destination in a fit and healthy state. It is these proven credentials that have recently started to be noticed by operators active in the oil and gas industry. The MCS Allianz Venus is the second FCS 2610 active in this sector in the Middle East.
The Integrated Monopile Installer – developed by Royal IHC’s subsidiary, IHC IQIP – has won the Maritime Innovation Award at the 11th Maritime Awards Gala, held on Monday 31 October. The award is presented annually for a Dutch innovation from the maritime sector that meets the requirements for widespread potential application, excellent marketing prospects and sufficient export possibilities.
The chair of the judging panel, Ir. Hans Huisman, presented the award to IHC IQIP’s Executive Director Jan Albert Westerbeek. The judges singled out the Integrated Monopile Installer for the award due to the distinctive combination of innovations within a single system and its promotion of corporate social responsibility. The system allows monopile foundations to be installed efficiently and safely, and mitigates noise during pile-driving. In addition, it effectively reduces costs while offering environmental protection.
The system is an optimal combination of both knowledge and equipment that enhances the process of installing monopile wind turbine foundations. By seamlessly integrating technologies, the Integrated Monopile Installer reduces operation times, creates a safer working environment and increases the level of precision during offshore installations.
The Noise Mitigation System component creates a sealed-off environment, separate from external currents and waves, and mitigates the noise released during pile-driving. Both the optimisation of the installation process and the environmental protection will extend the use of monopiles as wind turbine foundations.
Royal IHC’s subsidiary, IHC IQIP, is a global market leader in innovative equipment and smart solutions for foundations, installation and decommissioning activities in the oil and gas, offshore wind, and coastal and civil engineering markets. IHC IQIP was established in 2015 following the merger of four renowned Royal IHC business units: IHC Hydrohammer, IHC Fundex Equipment, IHC Handling Systems and IHC Seasteel. These units have more than 200 years of combined experience, expertise and passion for innovation.
Brazil’s most advanced ROV support vessel (RSV), the Fugro Aquarius, has specified acoustic positioning technology supplied by Sonardyne Brasil Ltda., to support its subsea inspection, repair and maintenance activities in the region.
Already delivered and fully commissioned, the Ranger 2 Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) system is being used to track the precise position of the vessel’s Work-class ROVs in water depths of up to 3,000 meters. It is also providing the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system with position reference data to allow it to remain on-location whilst survey operations are underway.
Fugro Aquarius
Launched in 2015, the 83 meter long Fugro Aquarius has been designed specifically for the Brazilian market with over 60% of local content. This April, Petrobras awarded the vessel a one year contract to carry out work including subsea video and data acquisition, site investigations and asset integrity monitoring.
For their new vessel, Fugro specified that the Ranger 2 be configured with Sonardyne’s deep water optimized GyroUSBL 7000. The unique design of GyroUSBL incorporates a USBL transceiver and high survey-grade inertial sensor in the same unit. This combination increases precision by eliminating common sources of system error such as lever arm offsets, pole bending and ship flexing.
Deployed through the hull using a Sonardyne-built machine, GyroUSBL calculates the position of the vessel’s two Fugro-built 150HP ROVs by measuring the range and bearing to the Wideband Mini Transponder (WMT) fitted to each vehicle. Small and lightweight, WMTs offer reliable tracking performance in crowded offshore environments where multiple vessels frequently conduct simultaneous operations in close proximity to each other.
Speaking about Fugro’s decision to equip the Fugro Aquarius with Ranger 2, Barry Cairns, Regional Head of Sonardyne Brasil Ltda., said “it demonstrates their commitment to investing in the best available subsea technology for their IRM operations offshore Brazil”, adding, “We’re confident they will quickly see a return on that investment in the form of faster and more efficient survey operations and greater vessel utilization.”
For more information on Ranger 2, click here
Offshore Source keeps you updated with relevant information concerning the Offshore Energy Sector.
Any views or opinions represented on this website belong solely to the author and do not represent those of the people, institutions or organizations that Offshore Source or collaborators may or may not have been associated with in a professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.