PREPROJECT:INCREASING OPERATION TIME BY PRE- SIMULATIONS OF OFFSHORE CRANE OPERATIONS

Polytec in cooperation with Sintef ICT arranged a ?VRI Innovation dialog? with the title «More efficient Maritime operations» in Haugesund the 6th of June. All the most important representatives from the Maritime Industry in Rogaland were present. Th e most important need both for the dominating subsea operator Deepocean, crane manufacturer National Oilwell Varco, ship designers, and also a main focus for the dominating offshore subsea vessel owners, were to increase the vessel operability that is m ost often limited by the crane operations. Typically crane operation is often limited to maximum wave height Hs of 3m, while the vessels often are capable of 5-6m Hs. The increasing trend of subsea installations and factories in deeper waters, will req uire much heavier and more advanced lifting operations. Today the weather limitations are too dominating. In the winther time the operability on subsea operations are only about 30%. The main intention of this pre-project is to discuss with all partne rs to develop the best possible main project, both to improve crane operations on existing vessels and improve the performance of new vessels. The main needs from the offshore operators are: - The crane operation to be possible to calculate on fore hand. - Need for crane simulations and analyses before the operation - Training on onboard simulator just before and during the crane operation - Operation window have to be increased - the cranes have more weather limitations than the vessel - Need for better weather forecast and more accurate wave data - More accurate calculations of vessel motions are needed