R&D Project Targets Better Gangway Operability

Kongsberg Maritime is working with Norwegian shipping company Østensjo and the Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (Marintek) on a new research and development project for operations using motion compensated and telescopic gangways, typically found on accommodation vessels in the offshore sector. The project is part of the Norwegian Government’s innovation program MAROFF (Maritime Activities and Offshore Operations).

Accessing any fixed or floating offshore structure via a vessel can be challenging due to the movement against the structure, with weather conditions playing a critical role. Gangways eliminate the need to use dangerous ladders but it is important that the distance between vessel and structure is within the operational limit of the telescope on the gangway. Positioning equipment ensures the vessel and structure remain within operational limits, but with gangway connection and disconnection operations performed relatively rarely, crew training is essential to reduce risk to personnel and avoid structural damage.

Utilising Kongsberg Maritime’s Dynamic Positioning (DP) controller for operation of Østensjo’s new generation accommodation vessel, Edda Fortis, the project will involve the collection and analysis of operational data together with simulation studies using the SIMO simulation tool package and Kongsberg Maritime’s DP algorithms. In addition, a tailor-made simulation software system for crew training on critical operations, incidents and planned operations preparation will be developed by Kongsberg Maritime.

Sensor data will be interfaced to Kongsberg’s DP system to simulate the compensation of the motion between the rig and the accommodation vessel. The data analysis will then be used to adjust the DP control strategy on board, with a key aim to extend the operational window defined for gangway operation.

“We are enthusiastic about taking part in this advanced R&D project,” explained Terje Heierstad, Global Product Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. “The accurate full scale data from the accommodation vessel will be used to improve, update and tune the simulator models to an extreme level of accuracy, which is important when training for operations with high safety requirements and small risk margins.”