Hornbeck Offshore Services is one of the first offshore vessel owners to use a revamped dynamic positioning (DP) system from GE Marine Solutions on two new multipurpose support vessels (MPSVs) built in the US. GE supplied SeaStream DP systems to two US-flagged, Jones Act-qualified MPSVs constructed at Eastern Shipbuilding. The vessels were delivered by the yard in January and April of this year. GE also provides training in Houston to enable operators to use the new technology efficiently.
With the help of Hornbeck Offshore’s input, GE completely redesigned and improved the user control interface of SeaStream DP. GE Marine Solutions president and chief executive Tim Schweikert said the new interface puts the control of the vessel back into the hands of the DP operator with simpler, intuitive controls. “The interface has a larger touchscreen and simpler displays for users,” he explained to OSJ. “We re-engineered the menu system and simplified the interfaces, because previously there was too much information on the display. The screens show information on the activity that operators are conducting, so they can focus on the mission, which results in more efficient DP operations.”
The changes have made quite a difference to the operators that have already used the DP system for offshore operations or have been trained using the Houston simulator. “The user feedback over the last year is positive,” said Mr Schweikert. “Operators say this is an intuitive user interface.”
It should also attract interest from vessel owners as GE has included an economy mode on the DP system that reduces the fuel used by the various thrusters to keep the vessel in a tight position. “It offers the opportunity to save 10 per cent in fuel when in the economy mode,” he added. “It has algorithms that hold the vessel in position and does not overcompensate to keep the vessel in the box, which means less fuel consumption.”
This could be attractive to owners suffering from the effects of declining charter rates for DP2 vessels. For equipment suppliers and system integrators, it is a tough market to gain contracts, said Mr Schweikert. He added, “It is challenging as the market is depressed – it is a different market from last year. But there are some projects out there. For example, at the Offshore Technology Conference [in Houston in May], there was a new project that we will be looking into.” He did not elaborate on what this project entailed, but perhaps it is a positive green shoot.
By redesigning the DP system interfaces, GE is hoping to attract more business when the market does pick up, said Mr Schweikert. “Our strategy is to invest in the downturn so we have state-of-the-art technology for the upturn,” he explained. GE has also invested in its SeaStream Insight onboard system monitoring system. This uses Predix, GE’s industrial operating system, to collate data from the variety of sensors that are deployed on offshore vessels. The Insight software analyses this data to provide operators with condition and performance information. “Sensors are becoming more prolific, especially in offshore where operators use this data to enhance operations,” said Mr Schweikert.
Hornbeck Offshore director of projects and engineering William Krewsky gave GE positive feedback for the systems it supplied for the two MPSVs. “The solution provided by GE has been met with initial appreciation by our fleet operators during the sea trials and delivery of the lead vessel,” he said. For these vessels, GE also supplied the first MKII MV3000 active front end drives, which the company claimed have some of the highest power density of any developed drive.
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