HMC Chooses Kongsberg Offshore Simulator
Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) has selected Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Sim Offshore simulation platform to enhance crane operator training and the safe, efficient implementation of heavy lift operations. With the contract signed on May 21, 2014, delivery of what Kongsberg said will become the world’s most advanced offshore heavy lift crane simulator is planned for September 2015. It will be installed at a new simulation centre in the HMC Academy at the company’s HQ in Leiden, the Netherlands.
As an international offshore oil and gas marine contractor specializing in transporting, installing and removing offshore facilities, HMC’s requirement when selecting its simulation partner was to develop a system that could train the most competent crane operators and conduct detailed pre-mission training for heavy-lift projects. To meet these requirements, Kongsberg Maritime will develop a unique simulator based on the K-Sim Offshore platform, which is already in use at several offshore training facilities worldwide.
“In addition to the technical capabilities of the K-Sim Offshore Simulator, especially including its high-level hydrodynamics, it was important to find a simulator supplier that we could work closely with on such an extensive project,” said Catina Geselschap, Project manager at the HMC Academy. “Kongsberg Maritime demonstrates not only the technical competence to deliver such a complex and sophisticated simulator, but also an open approach that encouraged dialogue and a willingness to find a solution working in close cooperation with Heerema.”
The Kongsberg Maritime scope of supply includes two offshore crane operator domes and a DNV Class A bridge with K-Sim DP simulator, which is based on the same Kongsberg Maritime K-Pos DP systems used on Heerema’s vessels. To achieve highly realistic training, the K-Sim Offshore simulator will feature detailed models of three HMC deepwater construction vessels; Thialf (Semi-Sub), Balder (Semi-Sub) and Aegir, in addition to several barges (including H-851) and a supply vessel.
Supporting Heerema’s plans to use the simulator for project planning, testing and verification, Kongsberg Maritime is also developing a set of library objects and models of offshore installations and equipment used for simulating specific heavy lift projects; such as lifting Jackets, top sides and subsea templates from barge to vessel or from vessel and overboard. Also included in the delivery is an extensive instructor and debrief system and two deck operator trainers (deck position simulator) designed to train for communication and teamwork between the crane operator and deck operators.
“Heerema is pushing limits with real operations and the K-Sim Offshore simulator project will push limits within training for heavy-lift applications,” said Harald Kluken, Area Sales Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. “As our most advanced offshore heavy lift crane simulator to date, this project will take the K-Sim Offshore simulator platform a great step forwards in regards to engineering and pre-simulation for complex heavy lift operations.”
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