Case Study: Miros Wavex supporting walk-to-work vessel during critical operations
Real-time wave measurements help CSOV Rem Power to evaluate if the weather forecast is in line with the actual weather conditions when connecting the gangway against fixed or floating installations.
Image: Rem Offshore AS
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Background
Rem Power, the state-of-the-art CSOV (Commissioning Service Operation Vessel) that won the “Offshore Energy Vessel of the Year Award 2024*”, is packed with innovative solutions and technology. The Vard 4 19 design is tailor-made for maintenance operations at offshore wind farms across the world.
A pioneer in green and technological solutions, she is also the first vessel to partake in the testing of the Ocean Charger project, aimed at developing a maritime value chain for offshore wind with offshore energy transfer.
Rem Power has a long list of other titles as well, including the first delivery of a Vards SeaQ integrated bridge system and an Electric Controlled Motion Compensated (ECMC) crane. The vessel is also equipped with Miros’ cutting-edge wave measurement technology to its support superior operability.
The Challenge
One of the major challenges for any Walk-to-Work (W2W) vessel is the connection of the gangway system to the turbine or fixed or floating offshore installations. Such operations are heavily affected by the weather and the subsequent wave and current conditions. Therefore, weather forecasts become critical to maximize vessel operability and make sure
that such operations are conducted safely.
There is a challenge though around the accuracy of weather forecasts, as well as their lack of frequency – they are designed to predict longer, slow-changing trends in the weather and corresponding waves. However, the ocean surface is not static, and it might change in a matter of minutes, or even seconds.
Such high frequency changes are non-detectable by weather forecasts and will obviously affect any marine offshore operations, especially W2W deployments.
The Solution
This highly innovative vessel is equipped with a Miros Wavex system, meaning it benefits from advanced wave measurement technology. Connected to the vessel’s X-band radar, Wavex provides highly accurate
real-time measurements of the ocean surface including waves and current.
Continuous access to up-to-the-minute measurements of local offshore conditions is critical to increase vessel operability and ensure that offshore operations can be conducted in a safe manner. Sudden, unexpected changes in waves, current, and weather conditions are not covered by weather forecasts, but are reliably measured, monitored, and recorded thanks to Wavex. As a result, weather-critical vessel maneuvers, especially walk-to-work and gangway operations, can be conducted safely, with vital real-time information at hand, displayed on intuitive live dashboards.
After a couple of months of operating the vessel with Miros Wavex technology onboard, Captain Kristian Stavset reported gratefully: “We use the Miros data for mainly two reasons:
1. To evaluate whether the weather forecast is in line with the actual weather conditions.
2. Use the Miros measurements with regards to wave direction vs swell direction vs surface current direction & speed to evaluate and establish the optimal vessel heading to be used when we are working up against Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) / Transition Piece (TP).”
The Value
1. Reduce vessel movement and motion
Measuring and predicting wave heights, currents, and vessel motion, Miros’ technology helps mitigate the risk of accidents and improves situational awareness. The radar-based sensor technology enables vessel operators to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to ensure the safety of their crew and assets.
2. Reduce waiting on weather
Optimize operations and minimize downtime through advanced analytics and machine learning. Analyzing data collected from various sensors and sources, Miros provides actionable ocean insights and predictive models on wave and vessel motions. This information allows operators to optimize operations, identify inefficiencies and minimize downtime.
3. Increase operability / efficiency
Wavex eliminates the time and cost issues associated with installing and maintaining underwater equipment and can interface with an existing marine X-band radar without calibration. Wavex is ideal for vessels at any ship speed, has been thoroughly tested and proven for decades and is DNV-certified. Real-time and historical sea state data is accessible from any device, with seamless integration and compatibility, locally or through the cloud.
4. Increase safety
The measured ocean data are vital to reducing damage to people, vessels, and offshore assets avoiding uncertainty in weather forecasts. Wavex measures accurately and in real-time, unaffected by vessel motion to deliver situational awareness for maritime operations prioritizing safety, sustainability, and performance.
Chris Moncrieff, Sales Manager Miros: “We are proud to do our part in ensuring superior offshore operations, while reducing waiting on weather and contribute to safer and more cost-efficient offshore operations.”
Example of a Miros Forecast dashboard.
Visualize the difference between forecasted and actual wave conditions in one intuitive dashboard. With Miros Forecast you can ensure accurate decision-making for crew deployment, equipment usage, and operational efficiency. By harnessing the power of Forecast, you can optimize offshore operations, improve safety, and maximize productivity.
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