ABB to fit monitoring and forecasting software on Cosco’s new heavy lift vessel
Power and automation technology firm ABB will equip Cosco Heavy Transport's Xiang Rui Kou heavy lift vessel with its onboard motion monitoring and forecasting system.
Power and automation technology firm ABB will equip Cosco Heavy Transport’s Xiang Rui Kou heavy lift vessel with its onboard motion monitoring and forecasting system.
The system to be installed is characterised by a mixed software and motion measurement set-up that provides information on the operation of the vessel and cargo handling during hostile maritime weather issues providing clear warnings on the bridge when certain motion thresholds are exceeded.
Cosco Heavy Transport Engineering director Marc Beerendonk said: "Now we have connected all our vessels to this software we are able to fully utilise ABB’s Fleet Portal, so all the motion related data collected from the whole fleet can be tracked and benchmarked.
"By doing so, we are able to increase the safety of the voyages and the comfort level of our client significantly."
The motion and forecasting system consolidates an array of data including wave measurements, weather forecasts, and navigation with ship characteristics, loading conditions, and motion sensor measurements to enable a consistent monitoring as well as simulating and forecasting of the ship’s responses and performance.
The system also issues warnings ofany potential hazards and their consequences.
Cosco Heavy Transport has utilised ABB’s decision support system onboard six of its semi-submersible vessels for several years and the monitoring & forecasting system is also being equipped on the Xiang He Kou, Cosco’s semi-submersible newbuild.
The 48,000 deadweight tonnes Xiang Rui Kou has a cargo deck measuring 177m by 43m.
Image: Cosco’s heavy lift vessel Xiang Rui Kou will be outfitted with ABB’s decision support system. Photo: courtesy of ABB.