Hamburg-based SAM Electronics, an L-3 company, has successfully completed supply and installation of a comprehensive assembly of electrical and other equipment aboard HGO InfraSea Solutions’ new offshore heavy-lift jack-up crane vessel, Innovation, as part of a consortium headed by Caterpillar Marine Power Systems and including thrust manufacturers SCHOTTEL and Zeppelin Power Systems.
Built by Crist shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, the 147 metre-long vessel has a payload of 8,000 tons and a crane capable of lifting loads of 1,500 tons. Able to operate over depths down to 50m with up to 150 personnel, it began service in August at the €1.3 billion 400MW North Sea wind farm, Global Tech 1.
SAM Electronics’ contribution to one of the most innovative self-sufficient jack-up vessels yet built included supply of eco-friendly diesel-electric propulsion equipment consisting of four 3.500 kW asynchronous thruster motors feeding a similar number of azimuth propellers and three 2,800 kW motors for the bow thrusters. All drives are speed-controlled by low-voltage PWM-converter drives powered by propulsion transformers via a 6,600V bus bar.
Other facilities integrated included six diesel generators providing total onboard electrical power of 34.4MW. They in turn feed two 6,600V high-voltage propulsion switchboards equipped with vacuum circuit breakers and GMP 500 protection modules for shielding of alternators and their supply of power for seven thruster drives, main supply and the vessel’s electrical jack-up system. Each PWM-converter drive is equipped with a SAM propulsion drive control panel which is also interfaced to Innovation’s automation, control and monitoring system.
The SAM Electronics-designed NACOS Platinum bridge-based automation, control and monitoring system comprises a series of standardised workstations with multi-function displays supported by a common operating network. Components include one wave radar, an S and three X-band radars linked to five Multipilot workstations which can be variously used for control of radar, Ecdis and conning functions. The system’s automation sector can process approximately 4,500 input and output signals controlled by ten process stations, with operator control possible in differing locations such as the engine control room and officer cabins in addition to the bridge.
A key part of the NACOS Platinum assembly also is an advanced DP2 dynamic positioning unit for maintaining precise vessel location in ever-changing environments. It has been developed by SAM’s associate L-3 company, Dynamic Positioning & Control Systems.
Commenting on SAM Electronics’ role as a major contributor to Innovation’s capability, Vice-President Reinhard Swoboda said it marked a further important stage in the company’s growing involvement in alternative offshore energy markets. This, he said, was continuing with further collaboration with Caterpillar, SCHOTTEL and Zeppelin Power Systems in development of comparable equipment for a second jack-up vessel commissioned by HGO InfraSea Solutions, Vidar. Also being built by Crist shipyard, it is due to begin operating next year.
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Press release, September 25, 2012; Image: HGO InfraSea Solutions