New specific operation simulation and procedure development functionality added.
Currently in development, the new Anchor Handling Simulator - AHS is scheduled for release before the end of 2008 and is being developed in parallel with a bespoke AHS for Maersk Supply Service, following a co-operation agreement that was signed in February 2008, based on over a decade of simulator collaboration.
The new Kongsberg Maritime AHS fulfils all training objectives of both the anchor handling vessel navigator and the winch operator. It also offers the possibility to simulate specific anchor handling operations prior to them taking place and to develop safety procedures and review them after the procedure is introduced in real life.
"Anchor handling is dangerous and expensive and therefore requires maximum knowledge of the equipment and its operation," comments Kongsberg Maritime's Product Advisor, Geir Lilje. "The extra functionality in the new AHS will help to make anchor handling operations safer as the industry concentrates on the development of such procedures, in light of recent anchor handling tragedies."
Kongsberg Maritime's new AHS is clearly focused on very accurate ship movement and the calculation of external forces acting on the ship. To achieve this goal the company has developed a new 'line' module to present the wire, chain or rope acting on winches, guide pins or other Anchor handling equipment. It can be rendered in variable resolution and takes into account the entire range of actions possible of a line, including: Tension and forces, Free hanging (catenary curves), Interaction (or wrapping) around rigid bodies (deck, hull, etc) and interaction with objects at ends or in the middle (winch, shark jaw, pin, drum/roller, chaser, anchor, plough, etc).
Using Kongsberg Maritime's latest visual systems technology, the new AHS is able to create a highly realistic scene, which covers all elements of anchor handling operations and can be used to train on various scenarios, such as:
- Ship manoeuvring
- Operation of different types of AH equipment
- AH operations with offshore drilling units and other anchored floaters
- Retrieve and Run anchors using all common type of equipment
- Find the optimal positions/designs of handles and instruments
- Towing and accurate positioning of semi-submersibles and jackups
- Deck operations and procedures