Not all stability software is made equal. Even if all commonly available stability programs were of the same quality, virtually all of them are designed first and foremost for conventional vessels - and it's no secret that the unique characteristics of offshore platforms demand capabilities not usually required for ships. Rig stability is a very critical issue, and it can also be quite complex. What rig operators need is software that can constantly monitor and predict stability in any combination of circumstances; but what they don't need is an interface as complex as the problem.
Enter Autoload Rig. Only recently released, yet already installed on more then 15 platforms. Autoload has also been chosen for the biggest floating rig ever built: Thunderhorse.
Autoload Rig was designed specifically for the Offshore industry, with a completely new interface resulting from rig operator recommendations. From the start, Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) adopted a simple philosophy: with one brief look at the screen, you must be able to get a clear picture of the vessel's current stability status, loads, and important margins. Quick and accurate understanding means that you are better able to make critical decisions, while leaving the mathematical complexity of the problem to the computer. In addition. Autoload Rig is designed to be tailored to virtually any customer or vessel-specific requirement.
ASC spoke with rig operators and designers, and what the industry told them was that critical information needs to be readily identifiable, must not be hidden, and must always be found in the same place. It's interesting that this is not the trend in most software for desktop computers - the normal Windows environment presents you with layers of windows, each capable of being closed or minimized. There are reasons why this paradigm is popular, not the least being that it allows you to put up any combination of data... but it also places the onus on the user to organize and keep track of all that data. That's great if you are writing a memo and attaching a spreadsheet, but doesn't help you get a clear picture when time is short and the conditions are and marine loads (mooring and risers). You can enter loads (and even set compartment damage) directly within the rig images.
Loads Frame Tables for showing and editing all loads, divided into tank loads and "fixed" (non-liquid) loads.
(See Fig. 1) ASC decided to develop this new interface for use on conventional vessels as well (as Autoload Version 6.0).
As a result, the "new" interface developed from Autoload Rig is now being used on a tanker vessel operated by Teekay Shipping Ltd., and is being installed on several new-build bulk carriers for Westwood Shipping Lines. Even though the interface clearly reflects the needs of the Offshore industry, it is still important to look behind it —after all, in the software industry what you see on the screen may not always be representative of what you are actually getting.
Fortunately, though, Autoload's hydrostatic engine - the software at its heart - is based on experience gained from 20 years of providing hydrostatic prediction software (Autohydro) for vessel designers, and stability software for the marine shipping industry.
Autohydro is used by over 1000 engineering companies around the world, and is tested and approved by most governing approval bodies. In the offshore market.
major design offices like GVA Consulting and the Aker & Kvaerner Group have been using Autohydro for rig stability for more then 15 years. Just as Autohydro is the industry standard for offshore design offices.
Autoload Rig is proving very popular with the rigs designed by these offices - because they both rely on the same 3-D mathematical model. In other words, the same rig model is used in both the design process and actual operations. The importance of this model should not be underestimated.
The vessel model is a key element in the accuracy and flexibility offered by Autoload. The model is truly 3-D and is inclusive of all volumes (tanks, holds, empty spaces, etc). The mathematical treatment of this model gives a true simulation of any floating condition, including real shift of CG for slack tanks, true wind heeling moment, and accurate damage simulation (loss of buoyancy method). If a table-based system is designed to give comparable outputs, it would simply be incapable of achieving the level of accuracy represented by Autoload Rig. (See Fig. 2) The flexibility and accuracy provided by both the 3- D model and a proven, state-of- the-art hydrostatic engine is also key to fulfilling the specific requirements of the offshore industry. Challenges specific to offshore platforms include: • unlike conventional vessels, a rig's stability is critical in any direction.
• different stability restrictions according to drilling, survival, or temporary conditions.
• due to the complex geometry of a rig, the waterplane area (the various parts of the structure breaking the waterplane) - and therefore also the rigs stability - varies significantly with changes in draft (ballasting) or inclination.
• small water plane area relative to the rig's displacement.
which (for example) means that damage to one pontoon peak tank could easily result in an inclination of more than 10 degrees.
With Autoload's 3-D model you can easily predict the effect that damage will have on stability in any direction; the software calculates real shift of free surface in slack tanks according to any change in heel or trim. Real-time sensor data is used for tank contents, drafts, mooring tension, riser tension and wind, while the software accommodates different sets of criteria for different modes of operation. A separate view frame monitors the actual maxVCG curve relative to the current condition (draft/vcg).
(See Fig. 3) Finally, ASC hasn't forgotten to account for the time-honoured programmers dictum, "nonsense in, nonsense out (replace the word "nonsense" as you please). What if data that should have been manually entered somehow gets omitted? What happens if a sensor is mis-reading, or if an operator enters incorrect data? This is where the 3-D model of the displacing vessel saves the day: Autoload Rig compares the "calculated draft" with the "real draft", and solves to find the "constant" weight that accounts for the difference. If this "constant weight" and its calculated centre of gravity are within a specified limit, then the loading condition is considered correct. If the constant weight falls outside the limits, the operator is warned and must find the reason for the discrepancy. If you need stability software for an offshore vessel of any kind, then it is worth contacting an ASC dealer for more information.
During the 24 years Autoship Systems Corporation has been producing worldclass CAD/CAM and load management software, it has amassed thousands of customers — including the US Navy, US Coast Guard, Newport News Shipbuilding, Teekay Shipping Ltd, Halliburton Subsea, CS Marine Technology Corporation, Rolls Royce, Westwood Shipping Lines, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines, plus private companies and government agencies in every corner of the world. ASC also recently partnered with CS Marine Technology Corporation to offer consulting services for owners and vessel designers doing business in China. ASC's latest load management and stability products include Lloyds and DNV-approved Stowage Management Systems for ro-ro, container, bulk, tanker, and break bulk vessels (all with Autoload included in the system).
Their latest CAD/CAM offerings include Autoship 8.3 (for release next month) for hull design and surface modelling, Autostructure 3.0 for internal structural design. Production Manager 3.0 for nesting and other production support, and of course Autohydro 6.0.
Circle 4 9 on Reader Service Card
ers aimed at averting collisions between design Norway (CDN) announced its jointly developed containerized LNG ships and wind turbines. The research Autoload - Jack Up version was chosen solution. The 40-ft. ISO LNG Fuel Tank was prompted by the incident involv- for installation onboard Seaway 7’s ?
,” said Nate Gilman, Co-Founder mmseas.com and President of MM-SEAS. “Applying for a credential is like do- Boskalis Marine Services Sail With AutoLoad Onboard Stability Software Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) in cooperation with its UK & Norwegian resellers supply Boskalis Marine Services (Boskalis)
for design through to construction of all vessel types. Products include; Autoship (surface modeling), Autohydro (stability & strength calculations) and Autoload (onboard stability & strength simulation system). 0
for design through to construction of all vessel types. Products include; Autoship (surface modeling), Autohydro (stability & strength calculations) and Autoload (onboard stability & strength simulation system). 0
ef? ciency, cost savings and Products include; Autoship (surface modeling), Autohydro (stability & strength calculations) increased productivity. and Autoload (onboard stability & strength simulation system). Software products include: NavCad, PropCad, PropElements, PropExpert and SwiftCraft. 0
for design through to construction of all vessel types. Products include; Autoship (surface modeling), Autohydro (stability & strength calculations) and Autoload (onboard stability & strength simulation system). Ph: 604-254-4171 • Fx: 604-254-5171 Contact: Ross Muirhead, National Sales Manager sales@autoship
18 on Reader Service Card MSC Selects Autoship Systems Military Sealift Command (MSC) has chosen Autoship Systems' onboard sta- bility program Autoload for their ves- sels. Autoload allows vessel operators to perform proper trim stability and strength calculations for any load calcu- lations
selected panels, assemblies, object type, type per material or any subset of interest. Circle 22 on Reader Service Card Unicom Of Cyprus Chooses Autoload/LPS Autoship Systems Corp. announced that Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Limited (UNICOM) has pur- chased Autoload/LPS, an integrated
Cargo Management and Stowage Planning systems. HYDROSTATICS SOFTWARE Autohydro - our reliable, type approved hydrostatics engine for design. Autoload - customized onboard stability and strength monitoring systems. n^n Mi Mi fl^^lf m gg mm gg gg •• gg JHHHf Mt 4-Dimensional Thinking - It is Time
Management and Stowage Planning systems. HYDROSTATICS SOFTWARE Autohydro 5.3 - reliable, type approved hydrostatics engine - New 2002 Release!. Autoload - highly customized onboard stability and strength monitoring solutions. 4-Dimensionai Thinking - It is Time Ships and cargo exist in three dimensions
one pontoon peak tank could easily result in an inclination of more than 10 degrees. With Autoload's 3-D model you can easily predict the effect that damage will have on stability in any direction; the software calculates real shift of free sur- face in slack tanks according to any change in
Offshore Annual Autoload-Rig Stability Software for Semi Submersible Rigs Not all stability software is made equal. Even if all commonly available stability programs were of the same quality, virtually all of them are designed first and foremost for conventional vessels - and it's no secret
predecessors, the Mk I and Mk II, the processed efflu- ent water in the Mk III contains less than 5 PPM of oil. Circle 32 on Reader Service Card Autoload 6.0 for Bulk, Tanker Markets — • $ 1 Si m -Jjj—ii -ijji-jj * puSS >v —S" II Is =a 3 a <3 Circle 212 on Reader Service Card Autoship
CAD/CAM and Customized Load Planning Software. Products: Autoship Pro, Autohydro Pro, Autostructure, Production Manager, Autoplate, Autopower, Autoload CADMATIC Itainen Rantakatu 72 Turku,-20810 Finland www.cadmatic.com Matti Juntunen tel: .+358-2-412 411 fax: +358-2-412 4495 email:matti
relays are normally open 40A at 12V DC and closed at 30A, or for 24V DC: open at 20A and closed at 15A. Circle 104 M- Autoship^ Systems Autoload 6.0 is the latest 3D- based onboard > stability and simulation monitor software from Autoship. Autoload is very user-friendly and reliable
www.marinelink.com 55Autoload Stability - Marine Crane Software Solutions Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) has been developing load planning sys-tems for vessels for more than 25 years, with the goal of providing a solution that allows the operator to maximize efforts using whatever data is available.
. Circle 101 Autoship ASC On-board and Load Planning software is used at all stages of vessel operations. Cen- tral to the On-board solutions is Autoload. The program reads data from tank, draft, wind and SCR sensors as well as user-input, and then reports on the condition of the vessel. Autoload
and cargo decks hard- coded into the same 3D vessel model, the operator has a unique tool for exact simulation of any critical vessel opera- tion. The Autoload 3D vessel model is exactly the same model as used for cal- culations in approved stability booklets. Vessel loading is a combination of input
in detail, step by step. Each step will record the position of all cargo, the crane(s) position and load, and the bal- last water distribution. The Autoload crane module handles crane types including telescope, knuckle jib, and A frame cranes. The 3D Vessel Model The vessel model, as the basis for
loading computer requirements. From the start, Autoship System Corporation has strived to adopt a sim- ple, sophisticated philosophy for devel- oping Autoload: the program must be simple to use, yet apply the most accu- rate mathematical analyses to all calcu- lations. Therefore, a brief look at the Autoload
2472305 email:[email protected] Descr: Naval Architect and Marine Engineers - Marine CAD/Cam Systems Specialists Products: Autoship, Autohydro, Autoload, Autostructure, Autopower, Autoplate etc. Numeriek Centrum Groningen B.V. P.O. Box 204 Groningen, 9700 AE Netherlands www.nupas-cadmatic.com
the world’s first AC electric propulsion system. In 1990, they delivered the first electric podded propulsion sys- tem, Azipod. Circle 101 Autoload ASC On-board and Load Planning software is used at all stages of vessel operations. Cen- tral to the On-board solutions is Autoload. The program
rig Ocean Endeavor. Completion of the upgrade is scheduled for fourth quarter 2006. Circle 55 on Reader Service Card Offshore Technology Annual Autoload-Rig: Stability Software for Semi-submersibles Stability software for oilrigs should not only solve present day technical issues related to strength an
. Circle 101 Autoship ASC On-board and Load Planning software is used at all stages of vessel operations. Cen- tral to the On-board solutions is Autoload. The program reads data from tank, draft, wind and SCR sensors as well as user-input, and then reports on the condition of the vessel. Autoload