MARINTEK’s Strategic Institute Programme "MS NAUTILUS" is focusing on safety and cost-effectiveness in ship operations - naval and commercial shipping - and in exploiting marine resources. The programme will be carried out in close cooperation with NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and the industry. The objectives of the programme are to develop:

Extended testing services; simulation, laboratories and full scale
New infrastructure integrating hydrodynamic software and control systems
Simulators for developing of marine control systems
Simulation methods for operational planning and training

Control of Motions and Response

Control of motions and response of ships at speed is of vital importance for passenger, Ro-Ro, navy and container ships. Development of such systems require monitoring of waves, different type of sensors, ship operational limits of the ships and advanced control systems. MARINTEK is working together with a number of international partners within this area; Lockheed Martin, Nigel Gee, Pacific Marine Design and others. MARINTEK is the coordinator of an EU-financed project together with several partners within hull monitoring.

In order to investigate the performance and the operational limits for ship using control systems etc., a simulator is necessary. The simulator is used for:

Safety analysis such as failure mode and effect analysis (FMFA)
Development of control systems (algorithms, sensor integration, redundancy)
Training
Documentation of the entire control system

The simulator is based on accurate ship models, sensor models and control software developed in cooperation with NTNU. New methods of determining ship models parameter will be focused on in this strategic R&D programme.

Complex Operations and Fleet Planning

MARINTEK represents the Royal Norwegian Navy on:

NATO, Specialist Team on Naval Ship Manoeuvrability.
NATO, Specialist Team on Simulation-Based Design and Virtual Prototyping.

These groups are developing NATO standards for simulating major operations at sea. Such operations often include large and small vessels, helicopters and submarines. The simulation models will be used both for training, as decision-support systems and in the design phase. Each individual country is responsible for its own module in the system.

MARINTEK has adapted the NATO standard for simulating ship operations.

Another objective is to develop tools for both optimal utilisation of a large number of ships, helicopters etc., fleet planning as well as for different types of operations; rescue, emergency, offshore marine operations.

In Congested Waters

Training and decision-support systems for use on board ship and ashore, i.e. "shore-based remote pilotage", will improve safety in approaches and harbours where safety margins are marginal. With support provided by the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, MARINTEK is developing a system for Jebsen Management AS for the approaches to Svea Mine in Svalbard. Requirements regarding safe operation in these waters are stringent, because special attention needs to be paid to the environment.

The individual components of such a system consist of:

Vessel simulation models (vessel, propeller/rudder/thruster, effects of depth, etc.).
Description of local waters, including depths, currents, wind, waves, etc.
Modelling of the local geography, i.e. approaches and harbour conditions, including weather and visibility.

The system will be designed in such a way that it is updated and modified via measurements of individual on-board parameters during operation. Simulation models can also be installed and utilized in full-scale training simulators.

Electronic charts are well on the way to becoming standard equipment on board ship. The decision-support, training and remote pilotage system employs this technology to improve the competence of the navigator in handling his own vessel, navigating in particular waters and improving navigational safety.

Modelling assistance provided by tugs is another module of the system.

Damaged Ship

Better systems for emergency planning and rescue operations are necessary.

Several accidents at sea, collisions and groundings have demonstrated the need for better knowledge and understanding about the loads, floating capability and strength of ships which is partly damaged. Along the Norwegian coast alone 3-4 groundings occurred last winter resulting in oil pollution and extensive rescue operations.

In Port and Harbours

Ship handling in harbours and ports is of increasing importance with increased traffic, larger vessels and demand for shorter turn-around time as speed increases.

High precision positioning and tracking system require exact knowledge about the ship behaviour in shallow water, wind, effects of other nearby ships/structures and the propulsion/thruster systems.

MARINTEK is involved in a project together with Fjellstrand AS and Rolls Royce Marine for developing a part docking system for their high speed ferry "Ferry Cat".

Exploitation of the Oceans

Exploitation of the ocean requires efficient and accurate manoeuvring of surface ships combined with different underwater systems, ROVs, trawls etc. MARINTEK is working close together with the SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and NTNU in developing models for simulation of such systems for exploitation of marine resources. Such systems have to be very accurate and is often very complex and advanced, requiring the best knowledge within hydrodynamics and cybernetics.

Offshore Marine Operations

There is quite a variety of offshore marine operations requiring the best knowledge within hydrodynamic of ships and other structures, cybernetics and structural engineering.
Offshore ships for cable-laying, intervention, crane operations, pipeline laying etc are highly specialised working platforms for which motions as well as accurate and reliable positioning and tracking are crucial.
Together with the shipbuilders and suppliers we will develop the next generation of systems to increase cost-effectiveness and reliability for offshore marine operations.

Strategic University Program on Marine Cybernetics

Marine Cybernetics is a multidisciplinary education, research and development programme launched by Faculty of Marine Technology and Department of Engineering Cybernetics at NTNU addressing modelling and control of marine dynamical systems. The main objective of the research programme is to create the necessary expertise and the technology basis to support the new advances on marine control system design for marine operations and sea transportation.
Currently, 12 Ph.D. students are involved in research on active control of wave induced motion of fast ferries, underway replenishment and fleet control, control of flow and vortex induced vibrations of risers for deep water installations, control of seismic cables, propulsion and energy optimality in dynamic positioning and control trawl system in fisheries. The research fields in Marine Cybernetics are closely linked to the research topics addressed in Nautilus. In addition, the simulation and testing infrastructure developed through the Nautilus program will be extensively used in the research at NTNU. Key personnel in Marine Cybernetics group at NTNU are also involved in the Nautilus programme.

The Marine Cybernetics Laboratory

The Faculty of Marine Technology in co-operation with MARINTEK and the Department of Engineering Cybernetics offers access to the new Marine Cybernetics Laboratory (MCL). The main dimension of the basin is 40 x 6.5 x 1.5 m. The MCL will be equipped with a wave maker, wave beach and carriage for conducting high precision controlled motion tests up to 6 DOF. The latest technology within navigation and instrumentation systems, computer systems for control, data recording and analysis is used.
One of the key features is rapid prototyping of feedback control systems using automatic C-code generation and Matlab/Simulink.

MARINTEK contact: Kjell Holden

Published February 21, 2005