Wärtsilä is launching its latest innovation SmartPredict
& Information System (ECDIS) overlay function, SmartPredict provides clear indications of potential dangers during ship manoeuvring, thus immediately increasing the safety and efficiency of operations.
GARD PUBLISHES INFORMATION ON WATERTIGHT DOORS
WÄRTSILÄ LAUNCHES SMARTPREDICT TO PROVIDE SAFER SHIP MANOEUVRING GUIDANCE
The technology group Wärtsilä is launching its latest innovation SmartPredict. Developed by the company’s Dynamic Positioning unit, SmartPredict is designed to provide safer and more efficient vessel operations by reducing the risks associated with manoeuvring.
The system displays the vessel’s predicted future position and heading, and uses proven dynamic positioning (DP) analysis algorithms to evaluate forces affecting the vessel, thereby providing advanced motion prediction. SmartPredict also features a configurable prediction time display.
Most conventional prediction systems are able to utilise only basic input parameters, and thus offer limited usability. Wärtsilä’s SmartPredict software module, however, utilises all of the parameters used for automated control by the DP and adjusts them for the motion characteristics of the specific vessel. Such inputs
include the vessel’s current position and heading, as well as its velocity and rate of turn and all associated accelerations. Also taken into consideration are the manual commands from the coordinated control joystick, and environmental input from the onboard wind sensor(s). These factors are all continuously evaluated to provide a constant updating of the vessel’s path.
“Allowing the operator to see into the future enables smarter and safer ship handling decisions to be made, thus lowering the risk of accidents occurring. We see SmartPredict as being an important step towards more automated procedures, such as docking, and eventually fully autonomous vessel manoeuvring,” says Maik Stoevhase, Director, ANC & Integrated Systems, Electrical & Automation, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
The Wärtsilä user interfaces provide a simple, intuitive display, allowing the operator to toggle on or off the ‘ghost ship’ indicators for the predicted positions. This display also allows the user to configure the time steps for the predictions. Fully compatible with the Electronic Chart Display
8 | The Report • June 2017 • Issue 80
During day to day operations of a ship and particularly in situations where the ship has been damaged, it is usually assumed that all watertight doors are closed and that the vessel’s internal watertight subdivision is 100% effective. On board a ship, the safety of the crew and passengers depends on the safety of the ship and this includes the safe use of such doors so that they do not pose any danger when passengers and crew pass through the doors or operate them. However, Gard’s casualty statistics indicate that this is not always the case.
Root cause investigations after incidents involving power operated watertight doors have revealed that it has been common practice onboard ship to not to fully open them before passing through the doors. The door safety systems have also been found not to be in full working order during recent inspections
and that some doors have not been properly maintained or tested. Most accidents involving people occurs when the doors are in a bridge control, “doors closed” mode.
Shipping losses have declined over the past decade, driven by an increasingly robust safety environment and self- regulation. However, despite the reduction in total losses, they still happen and most of them are due to foundering, grounding, fire, collision or contact damage. These initial events can result in the vessel losing stability and buoyancy, which can lead to a major incident with a potential for significant loss of life.
Gard’s aim is, together with their partner in this project, DNV GL to create awareness of the correct use of and contribute to an increased competence on power operated watertight doors. Based on their analysis of cases involving watertight doors, Gard and DNV GL have produced a video and a presentation identifying the major risks, technical and operational issues, and steps the maritime industry can take to address them.
Follow this link to access the full information package: https://www.
iims.org.uk/gard-publishes- information-watertight-doors/
Gard has released a presentation and video about watertight doors
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