The recent advancements in dynamic positioning (DP) technology are not just incremental improvements; they’re a seismic shift in how we approach offshore operations. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of what’s happening and why it matters.
First off, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: failures. If a DP system goes down, the consequences can be catastrophic. We’re talking collisions, injuries, deaths, blowouts, pollution, and fires. It’s a grim list, but it’s a reality we must face. Built-in redundancy is the name of the game here, and it’s what determines the thruster, electrical, and engine configurations that keep these systems running smoothly.
Lauri Tiainen, Director of Thrusters and Propulsion Control Systems at Wärtsilä Marine, hits the nail on the head when he says, “There is no single, universal solution.” Each vessel is unique, with its own operational requirements and design considerations. Take shallow-water vessels, for example. They need different system solutions compared to traditional oil and gas vessels operating in deeper waters. Wärtsilä’s approach is to examine the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces acting on a vessel and determine how best to counteract these forces with thrusters. It’s all about optimizing propulsion efficiency, and that means assessing the placement and integration of steerable and tunnel thrusters within the hull.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room for the future: offshore wind. DP is gaining prominence in vessels involved in offshore wind projects, and Wärtsilä has introduced new technologies to meet this demand. Their WST-E thruster family, launched in 2024, is designed specifically for specialized shallow-water applications. But Wärtsilä isn’t stopping there. They’ve also developed their patent-pending OPTI-DP simulation tool and thruster allocation logic, which provides detailed insights into thruster-to-thruster and thruster-to-hull interactions. This tool allows for the simulation of environmental operating conditions, with independent wind, wave, and current directions, plus the ability to simulate multiple failures. It’s a game-changer for ensuring safe and efficient operations.
But Wärtsilä isn’t the only player in this game. ABB Marine & Ports has developed the ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control, which uses speed-dependent hydrodynamic models of the ship and its thrusters to increase the energy efficiency of DP operations. Kalevi Tervo, Corporate Executive Engineer and Global Program Manager at ABB Marine & Ports, explains that these models encode the behavior of the ship and the thrusters into a format which the control system can use to proactively “understand, plan and decide” the most efficient control strategies. It’s a proactive approach that’s especially beneficial in dynamic situations, but it’s also valuable for energy-efficient control in steady situations.
And then there’s Miros, which has launched a new wave and vessel motion prediction technology called PredictifAI. This technology anticipates the future to improve the energy efficiency of DP operations. It provides accurate and real-time wave, wind, and current predictions up to a couple of minutes in advance. By leveraging machine learning and advanced data analytics, the technology continuously improves its forecasting accuracy. It’s a monitoring solution that automatically adapts to varying sea and weather conditions, and it’s a testament to how AI can revolutionize the maritime industry.
Kongsberg Maritime is also making waves with its recent DP optimizations for offshore wind operations. They’re looking beyond individual vessel dynamics to enable vessels to maneuver within a wind farm more efficiently. This functionality allows vessels to move into a safety zone and reach an optimal position for gangway operations automatically. It’s a big-picture approach that’s set to reduce operational risks for the rapidly maturing floating wind industry.
But Kongsberg Maritime isn’t stopping at individual vessels. They’ve also addressed the challenges of transporting and installing giant floating wind turbines with Tow Assist, a DP system which enables unpowered floating structures to become DP-enabled. This system was successfully trialed in the North Sea in summer 2024 and is set to be commercially available in 2025. It’s a bold move that’s sure to shake up the industry.
So, what does all this mean for the future of the maritime industry? It’s clear that DP technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and it’s not just about preventing failures anymore. It’s about optimizing efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and improving safety. It’s about using AI and advanced data analytics to anticipate and adapt to changing conditions. It’s about looking at the big picture and finding solutions that work for the entire industry, not just individual vessels. The future of DP is here, and it’s exciting. But it’s also complex, and it’s going to take a lot of collaboration and innovation to make the most of it. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to
