Wärtsilä has launched its new SmartPredict solution to provide safer ship manoeuvring guidance at the recently concluded Seatrade Cruise Global exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
SmartPredict was developed by Wärtsilä’s dynamic positioning unit, and is designed to provide safer and more efficient vessel operations by reducing the risks associated with manoeuvring.
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The system uses dynamic positioning (DP) analysis algorithms to evaluate various forces affecting the vessel and displays the vessel's predicted future position and heading.
It is compatible with the Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) and features a configurable prediction time display.
SmartPredict is unlike other prediction systems in that it utilises all of the automated control parameters used by the DP and adjusts them for the motion characteristics of the specific vessel.
The system also employs the manual commands from the coordinated control joystick while delivering vessel's future positioning and heading data, and environmental input from the onboard wind sensor.
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By GlobalDataWärtsilä marine solutions ANC and integrated systems, electrical and automation director Maik Stoevhase said: “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.”
The company also noted that SmartPredict’s user interfaces provide a simple display that allows the operator to toggle the 'ghost ship' indicators on or off for the predicted positions.
The solution is also capable of providing clear indications of potential dangers during ship manoeuvring, thus increasing the overall safety and efficiency of operations.
Image: Looking into the future with Wärtsilä SmartPredict. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.
