Guidance Marine, part of the Wärtsilä group, has developed a new version of its targetless laser sensor which is specially designed for use on wind farm Service Operation Vessels (SOVs).
This new feature is included as standard with SceneScan and allows the sensor to measure range and bearing to the offshore wind turbine without the use of fixed reflexive targets and without relying on GPS, Guidance Marine said.
SceneScan Monopole is designed to increase safety on SOVs where vessel positioning sensors that rely on targets fixed to the structure are often unreliable because of poor placement, poor quality, and obscurement by workers on the platform, the company said.
The technology is highly applicable to China’s developing offshore wind market and North Sea wind farms, Guidance Marine said.
The first SceneScan Monopole has been delivered in summer 2018 for a Chinese SOV newbuild project carried out by GE Power Conversion, a subsidiary of General Electric.
“The first of its kind, SceneScan is compatible with all Dynamic Positioning systems in the market and fits one of the most demanding industries. It embodies our Smart Marine vision, where the latest and most advanced technologies support greater efficiency and enhanced operational safety,” said Dr Sasha Heriot , Business Development Manager, Navigation, Communication and Sensors at Wärtsilä.
The system underwent sea trials earlier this year onboard the Windea La Cour, a purpose-built SOV owned by Bernhard Schulte Offshore. The vessel is fitted with other Wärtsilä sensor solutions, including the RangeGuard Monopole, the first targetless local position reference sensor based on radar technology.
“We very much appreciate the efficient way in which Wärtsilä has responded to the need for upgraded sensor technology, which will be used with our class leading SeaStream DP system. This certainly advances the safety of SOV operations around wind farm structures,” says Chris Bannigan , Global Market Leader for Offshore Support Vessels, GE Power Conversion.