Advanced navigation for windfarm service vessels

The vessels are being built by Norwegian shipyard, Havyard Ship Technology and the contract is for the supply of a Raytheon Synapsis intelligent bridge control system, in keeping with DNV’s demanding NAUT-AW notation.

Raytheon’s INS systems feature two Synapsis multifunctional workstations for chart reader and ECDIS, two Synapsis multifunctional consoles and conning, as well as three additional ECDIS with weather-overlay function.

The conning will provide operators with the HMI for the new consistent common reference system, providing continuous data integrity monitoring, data quality indication and automatic or manual sensor selection modes, as well as with an integrated display for configuration and status of system functionality.

Meanwhile, the Synapsis INS will provide functional integration of sensor data and other information such as AIS, NAVTEX, charts, radar, centralised alarm management, system status display and reliability indication for important sensors.

The complete sensor system with two redundant Standard 22 gyro compasses and the NP 5500 trackpilot for high precision control completes the order.

Syberg, Raytheon’s exclusive Norwegian distributor, will be responsible for shipyard support, supply and commissioning of the INS while the vessels are being built.

The new 84m vessels are being built for Danish shipowner, Esvagt in Esbjerg. They will be delivered in December 2014 and March 2015. Siemens Energy has already chartered the ships to carry out maintenance for the German offshore windfarms Butendiek and Baltic II.

By Anne-Marie Causer