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48 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News of Vantage Marine 11.6 will have an impact beyond conventional shipbuild- ing, reaching into the oil and gas sector. "The heyday of mammoth, static oil platforms is all but over and the world is looking to Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and other floating facilities for the future of oil production," said Richard Longdon, CEO of AVEVA Group. "There is an estimated current requirement for 110 of these huge, mobile plants. They are a fusion of shipbuilding and plant tech- nology, requiring an integration of both technologies. We are uniquely poised to offer the best technology to complement our customers' business goals." Circle 32 on Reader Service Card Simple, easy to use maritime software installed on over 600 vessels and 100 technical offices worldwide. The following software systems are independent or can form part of a fully functional suite. • DNV Approved Marine Planned Maintenance • Marine Storekeeper • Marine Purchasing • Marine Project Manager • Marine Safety Manager • Marine Document Manager • Both ‘Ship’ and ‘Shore’ Based Modules For Further details please contact us on: Tel: +44 (0)1304 840009 Fax: +44 (0)1304 840075 Email: info@marinesoftware.co.uk www.marinesoftware.co.uk Circle 207 on Reader Service Card Circle 222 on Reader Service Card Circle 231 on Reader Service Card Circle 246 on Reader Service Card / B W J H B U J P O # S J E H F 3 B E B S " 3 1 " ( . % 4 4 ' J T I F S Z & $ % * 4 & O H J O F - $ ) 4 4 S W I M H S R M W S R I S J X L I [ S V P H P I E H M R K W Y T T P M I V W S J W M Q Y P E X S V W E R H X I E G L M R K E M H W J S V à Q E V M X M Q I X V E M R M R K 4 S W I M H S R L E W M R W X E P P I H W M Q Y P E X S V W S P Y X M S R W E X Q E V M X M Q I Y R M Z I V W M X M I W W G L S S P W X V E M R M R K G I R X V I W E R H R E Z E P G S E W X K Y E V H E G E H I Q M I W à M R Q S V I X L E R G S Y R X V M I W [ S V P H [ M H I à 4 S W I M H S R P S S O J S V [ E V H X S L I E V J V S Q ] S Y X S H M W G Y W W X V E M R M R K G S R G I T X W J S V ] S Y V S V K E R M W E X M S R 3 R V H L G R Q 6 L P X O D W L R Q $ 6 3 2 % R [ 1 / ( . 1 ( 6 1 2 5 : $ < 7 ) ( L Q I R # S R V H L G R Q Q R Z Z Z S R V H L G R Q Q R 4 J N V M B U P S T B O E U S B J O J O H D P O D F Q U T Software Solutions Nav Safety Program Starts Sea Trials The Haslar-based QinetiQ Platform Support Services Group is to fit Orpheus, a unique nav- igational safety tool, to a Royal Navy frigate. Orpheus will be installed on HMS Northumberland in August for year-long trials after demonstrations onboard a sistership, HMS Marlborough, proved a reported success. QinetiQ will then install the system to two more Type 23 frigates, HMS Somerset and Montrose, later in the year. Orpheus, an acronym for Onboard Risk Performance Hazard Evaluation System, is a dedicated and flexible operator guidance sys- tem that is designed to provide clear and con- cise information on how a ship will perform in a variety of heavy weather scenarios. Taking thee years to develop, it displays measured motions, predictions of motions at alternative speeds, and heading combinations alongside operating limits. MS Windows- based, the program combines real-time infor- mation with a database of previously generat- ed data which, when selected, is plotted to a computer screen in a simple-to-use format. The primary advantage of this operator guid- ance system is that it provides bridge staff with the means to quantify the risk of damag- ing, or ultimately losing the ship in extreme weather when performing certain duties. But it also allows officers to increase the operational envelope or improve operational safety of ship- board tasks that are normally hampered, even postponed, by the presence of harsh weather. "Traditionally, operators have learnt how to handle and operate ships in heavy and extreme weather by two means. First from generalized seamanship classroom lectures given during training. However, current guidance is mainly formulaic, generic and based upon historical experience which rarely relates to modern ships and techniques. There is very little ship- class specific information provided which tends to consist of paper copies of a few graphs which have very limited use in situ. "The second area is by learning from more sen- ior watch keepers during prolonged periods at sea, but with time at sea reducing, combined with better forecasting, means that experience of extreme conditions will become more infre- quent," said QinetiQ Senior Scientist, and Orpheus Project Manager Alan Hodges. "When initially developed - in collaboration with the U.K. Ministry of Defense Sea Technology Group (STG) - it was the Royal Naval bridge offi- cer that QinetiQ had in mind. However, the sys- tem is equally pertinent to ships operating commercial trades, especially FPSOs and other specialist vessels that regularly carry air- craft or perform towing operations," said Hodges. For instance, Orpheus provides the information required to undertake safe aircraft operations, towed array/towed body deploy- ment, small boat operations and (in the case of military vessels) weapons firing. In non-combat scenarios the system would aid operators to maximize crew comfort and crew effective- ness. There is also the benefit of maintaining the safety of cargo stowage and hence insur- ance premiums. Circle 33 on Reader Service Card MR SEPTEMBER 2005 #6 (41-48).qxd 9/1/2005 1:09 PM Page 48
