Kongsberg’s Equipment Nominated for Two ONS Innovation Awards

The new Kongsberg Offshore Vessel Simulator – Deck Operator Trainer (seismic streamer function) and the Kongsberg Evotec Bulk Hose Securing Unit have both been nominated for the ONS Innovation Awards, the winners of which will be announced during ONS 2012 at a special innovation lunch on Wednesday 29 August 2012.

Developed as part of Kongsberg Maritime’s leading Offshore Vessel Simulator, in co-operation with Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), the seismic streamer function of the Kongsberg Offshore Vessel Simulator – Deck Operator Trainer is based on the PGS seismic vessel, Ramform Viking. The Deck Operator Trainer offers a wealth of new training possibilities. The new seismic streamer function nominated for the award is designed to train engineers and crew in seismic streamer deck handling. It is currently installed and being used to train PGS operators at Vestfold University College in Norway.

The seismic streamer function of the Kongsberg Offshore Vessel Simulator – Deck Operator Trainer utilises the KinectTM for Windows motion sensing device, to track students’ movements and display them on a high-fidelity virtual representation of a streamer deck, viewed across three vertically mounted 65” TFT-LCD screens. The simulator consists of three stations using this set-up, allowing for direct communication between team members, standing close to each other in the physical space.

“We’re delighted that we have been nominated for this award based on the innovation and potential for improvements in safety and efficiency the new seismic streamer function of the Kongsberg Offshore Vessel Simulator – Deck Operator Trainer offers,” comments Erik Hovland, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kongsberg Maritime (Simulation). “The trainer features innovative control and interaction through the use of KinectTM for Windows and a system of virtual tools. In addition to training of seismic streamer operators, the system can be customised for training of e.g. anchor handling, crane and helideck operators and other back deck work where safety procedures and team training are vital to ensure safety and efficiency in operations.”

Kongsberg Evotec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime, started development of the Bulk Hose Securing Unit (BHSU) in order to mitigate the risk of injury or loss of life during unloading/loading operations on Offshore Supply Vessels. The system is a joint innovation through Statoil’s LOOP technology development program in cooperation with Innovation Norway and offshore vessel operator, Eidesvik AS.

OSV crew are currently required to stand on deck to manually receive and secure bulk hoses used for the transfer of bulk cargo from ship-to-platform or vice versa. Kongsberg Evotec’s unique BHSU system makes this operation much safer as the procedure is now coordinated and maintained from the wheelhouse and crew no longer need to enter the hazardous area. The BHSU device connects to the cargo rail and enables an operator to remotely handle bulk hoses. This negates the need for personnel to manually handle bulk hoses on deck, which removes the risk of personnel injury during bulk transfer operations.

“The BHSU has potential to reduce the risk of accident or injury during operations using bulk hoses, by completely removing the need for personnel to be on deck,” comments Jon Olav Kopperstad, VP Offshore Subsea & Supply, Kongsberg Evotec. “It has performed well during testing and is now commercially available, so we are very pleased to have been recognised in the early phases of the ONS Innovation Awards and are looking forward to finding out the final results in a few weeks’ time.”

[mappress]
Press Release, August 9, 2012