Offshore staff
KONGSBERG, Norway -- Ocean Rig's Leiv Eiriksson drilling semi has successfully navigated the Bosphorus Strait on its way to an exploration program in the Turkish Black Sea.
The maneuver was controlled using Kongsberg Seatex’s new DPS 4D differential positioning system.
The Leiv Eiriksson is one of the first vessels to apply DPS 4D. According to Seatex’s parent company Konsgberg Maritime, this system employs advances in GPS/GLONASS technology, combined with measurements supplied by Seatex's new MRU 5+ motion reference unit, which optimize signal tracking, integrity and availability for dynamic positioning operations.
The DPS 4D provided continuous, accurate position data during the transit of the rig through the Bosphorus Strait, demonstrating integrity and availability of position data at all times.
"The Bosphorus Strait is well recognized as being a hazardous area for navigation,” said Stein Egil Svendsen, Marine Manager at Ocean Rig.
“Despite the bridges and other obstacles, which actually interrupted other satellite-based reference systems onboard, we were able to reference our position continuously only because we had DPS 4D. The availability of position data helps to improve safety and efficiency of operations.
Kongsberg Maritime claims that the MRU 5+ measurements effectively bridge gaps in the satellite signal caused by physical obstructions, ionospheric activity and shadowing from nearby objects which may reduce signal availability. RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) enhanced by data from MRU 5+ can also be used to assess reliability of position and velocity data.
05/07/2010
Courtesy Allseas
Photo 149951227 © Benoit Grasser | Dreamstime.com
Courtesy Chartwell Marine
Courtesy Wärtsilä
Courtesy OLT Offshore LNG Toscana
