More accurately predicting wave induced vessel motions
Wave induced vessel motions are very hard to predict with accuracy yet they are one of the most important aspects of workboat operations offshore writes Dag Pike.
Incoming weather can have so many variables that operators tend to play it safe because of the consequences of getting it wrong. It was this area of uncertainty that led new Dutch start-up company MO4 to look at ways to eliminate some of this uncertainty. Following three years of development and intensive testing MO4 has recently launched an advanced new service of motion forecasting to enable workboats to operate more safely and efficiently.
The system comprises an easy to use on-board motion monitoring and forecasting system that is claimed to enable operators and contractors to realise significant cost savings and a proven workability increase of at least 20%. The MO4 platform accurately and clearly shows how the incoming weather will impact an offshore operation.
The device uses state-of-the-art ship motion algorithms combined with the world’s best weather models to generate a prediction of the ship motions of unrivalled quality. Relevant influences of cruising speed, bilge keels, anti-roll devices, free surface tanks and other parameters are incorporated. At regular intervals the forecast motions are presented on a screen in the vessel’s bridge in an intuitive and simple way, to aid the crew to make decisions based on the best available data enabling them to increase uptime and safeguard operations.
A key differentiator is that MO4 enables not only the forecasting of the ship’s motions but also the cargo sway and movement of gangway and other active equipment on the vessel by incorporating dedicated system algorithms. This clearly indicates the potential utilisation of such equipment.
The MO4 device is a combined result of predictive and powerful software developed by MOcean Offshore and monitoring technology developed by Siri Marine. Both companies agreed to officially join forces in January and this agreement shows their willingness to share data and experience in order to produce and market this exciting motion forecasting technology.
“Applying the high-end ship motion algorithms we have developed over the past years to the actual incoming weather instead of the assumptions usually made during the engineering phase increases the accuracy and thereby reduces the requirement of over-conservative margins,” commented Mark Paalvast of MOcean.
