- ABB adds dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) functionality to ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control, to enhance vessel command execution and safer maneuvering.
- DP2, a model predictive control, causes a redundancy in technical design maintaining the vessel position in times of single system fault.
- ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control’s DP optimizes energy efficiency against internal power plant status, benefitting responsiveness, efficiency and sustainability of vessel operations.
ABB adds dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) functionality to ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control, says a press release published on their website.
Safer maneuvering
This modality enhances vessel command execution and enables operators to focus on safer maneuvering.
ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control is designed to optimize vessel responsiveness, efficiency and safety across the entire operating profile. It employs joystick control for maneuvering at all times, including around the berth.
Model predictive control
ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control’s superior maneuvering capability is built around predicting where the vessel will be in 5-30 seconds instead of measuring its position on arrival.
The optimum way of executing decisions across the operational profile is calculated by the software, depending on how the operator has prioritized speed, maneuverability or other parameters.
Maintains the vessel position
Integrating DP2 functionality to ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control sacks the technical design, so that the vessel’s position is maintained even in the case of a system fault.
This functionality is particularly important for safe and reliable operation of construction and wind farm vessels working alongside fixed structures.
Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s
Launched in September 2018, ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control bagged an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate by Lloyd’s Register, a leading international provider of classification, compliance and consultancy services to the marine industry.
As announced at the maritime trade fair Nor-Shipping 2019, Lloyd’s Register has extended the AiP to now include the precision DP2 functionality.
Vessel safety and sustainability
Nick Brown, Marine & Offshore Director, Lloyd’s Register, said that the company is focused on supporting innovations to cater the industrial needs, such as DP.
He added that digital enablement is beneficial to vessel safety, efficiency and sustainability. By giving an earlier AiP for ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control to include DP2, the company acknowledges that the vessel will maintain position safely in the event of a single failure.
ABB towards autonomous operations
Integrating DP2 capabilities into ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control justifies ABB’s commitment towards autonomous operations, said Mikko Lepistö, Senior Vice President Digital Solutions at ABB Marine & Ports. He added that their intelligent maneuvering and control systems are now at the disposal of all types of DP2 vessels. This helps the seafarers with technologies that enhance their skill sets.
The DP2 performance draws on ABB’s experience as a DP systems supplier and insights gained from supplying the propulsion technology on which they rely.
Energy efficiency
Instead of reacting to external conditions, ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control’s DP optimizes energy efficiency against internal power plant status, thus adding value from the propeller up.
This benefits responsiveness, efficiency and sustainability of vessel operations. As an example, accurate forecasts that a slight load peak will last a short time can avoid powering up another diesel generator.
Suomenlinna II
In November 2018, ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control was the pivotal technology enabling trials of the ice-class ferry Suomenlinna II within a pre-selected area of Helsinki harbor that demonstrated how human oversight of vessels from anywhere is achievable using technologies in operation today.
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Source: ABB
