GE Dynamic Positioning

For Hornbeck’s New Subsea Construction Vessels
 

While astounding technology advances in the maritime and subsea sectors are becoming more common place, the capabilities of modern vessels in the offshore O&G sector are still something to behold. For example, holding a 100-m subsea construction vessel in position as it lowers with its 250-ton crane, heavy subsea modules to the seabed. GE’s Power Conversion helps to take the guess work out of complex dynamic positioning (DP) operations with its advanced human-machine interface (HMI) and returns ship control to the mariner, so skilled DP operators can once again focus on the task of ship handling. When the system is operating in its new “Energy Efficiency” mode, it offers the owner/operator reduced fuel consumption with the associated reduction in engine emissions continuing with GE’s global mission for a greener environment.
Hornbeck Offshore will employ Power Conversion’s latest generation DP technology for its four new multipurpose supply vessels (MPSVs). In their role as MPSVs, they can operate as either a subsea construction vessel capable of performing complex subsea construction operations or as a resupply and support vessel to ultra deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, or anywhere else in the world as required by their charterers.
“The DP solution and its user interface is the heart of a ship’s positioning system. When we can continue to work with a company that knows us, has supplied us with systems in the past and, with our input, can supply us with a next generation system we can rely on, it remarkably enhances our mission to provide value-added business solutions for our own customers,” said Carl G. Annessa, EVP and COO at Hornbeck Offshore. “By using GE’s next generation solution, we gain efficiency and flexibility thanks to a commonality of systems, as well as access to a global team of experts.”
GE will power, propel and position the new ships by delivering the integrated diesel-electric system including generators, propulsion and thruster drives, motors, switchboards, LV distribution, transformers, Class 2 DP, power management, alarm and monitoring, vessel control and an integrated bridge system comprising a comprehensive navigation and communications suite including radars, ECDIS, GMDSS and a full suite of internal and external communications systems.
GE is also equipping Hornbeck’s series of 10 platform supply vessels (PSVs), the first, HOS Red Dawn was delivered June 21 of this year and has been operating successfully ever since.
Launched in May this year at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, Power Conversion’s latest generation of dynamic positioning redefines DP with unprecedented flexibility for effective maritime operations. Its advanced HMI returns ship control to the mariner, so skilled DP operators can once again focus on the task of ship handling and be freed from the constraints of complex computer interface.

(As published in the October 2013 edition of Marine Technology Reporter - www.seadiscovery.com)