What kind of work is done using Dynamic Positioning?
What started out as a technology designed to position drillships in deep water has trickled down through the offshore industry & can now be found installed on all types of vessels. It is being used today in capacities never imagined back when it was first invented.
In this series we will take a look at how the technology is being utilized & some examples of ships on which it is installed.
Drill Ships
DP began with the drill ships so that is where we will start as well.
As explained in my Previous Article on gCaptain, the first vessel equipped with DP was the Eureka, owned by Shell. Although designed as a drill ship she ended up performing mostly coring operations. 10 years later the SEDCO 445 was delivered as the first purpose built DP drill ship. The 445 is still working in the field today, owned by Transocean & renamed the Deepwater Navigator.
Since then drill ship technology has progressed through to todays 6th generation drill ships, such as the Discoverer Clear Leader.
What are the DPO’s duties?
A drillship is connected to the sea floor most of the time. The vessel needs to stay within a certain position radius to ensure that the angle on the drill string does not get too great.
The DPO pays close attention to the weather & prevailing conditions & ensure that the vessel stays on the minimum power heading when possible. When the vessel automatically adjusts her heading to this effect it is known as “weather vaning”.
She will be equipped with a class 3 DP system, due to the large potential for environmental damage should something go wrong.
In a Red Light situation where the vessel is unable to hold position or is driving off, the drill string may have to be disconnected remotely. This is a complex task, as the well needs to be shut, the landing string closed & pressure needs to be bled off before unlatching.
This could be potentially avoided if a quick thinking DPO sees the problem right when it occurs & is able to take steps to mitigate the severity.
PSV’s & AHTS
The workhorse of the offshore, these ships perform a variety of tasks, from setting or recovering anchors, to running all description of supplies between the beach & rigs or vessels offshore.
These vessels provide the drilling fluids, fuel & tools necessary for running the jobs offshore. In some cases they act as Hot Shots, delivering critical supplies needed to keep the job running.
In other cases they spend long hours Standing By, either waiting to receive a load or just to support as needed.
Supply boats will normally be equipped with Class 1 systems, as the primary use is station keeping. Much of the time spent on DP is just standing by in the field, waiting on the call. Although the requirements differ from company to company, it is generally required to be used when coming alongside another vessel for cargo transfers.
The DP console will be stationed close to the aft bridge, so you can look out over the working deck.
Many companies these days specify that operations with the potential for damage to the environment, such as transfering fuel or other fluids, be carried out on DP, making its installation mandatory.
Working on supply boats can be a good way to obtain DP time when trying to obtain your license, however as it is a class 1 vessel the ticket will be Limited & you will still require some time onboard a class 2 or 3 vessel to complete the Training Requirements.
Here is a clip of the M/V Seacor Cougar while on DP
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early today after the large containerships Dali struck a primary support column. Two individuals were rescued, one is seriously injured, and authorities...
The most severe US bridge allision since the Tampa Skyway Bridge disaster in 1980 happened in the early hours of the morning while the ship was under pilotage. Here are...
According to records from the public ship safety database Equasis, MV Dali – the ship that collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge this morning – was cited by port...
By Josh Saul (Bloomberg) The collapse of a major Baltimore bridge Tuesday is likely to shut down the port’s coal exports for as many as six weeks and block the transport...
By Brendan Murray (Bloomberg) The bridge collapse Tuesday that shut the Port of Baltimore and closed a major highway will cause weeks or months of transportation disruptions in the Mid-Atlantic region...
3 hours ago
Total Views: 747
Why Join the gCaptain Club?
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.