Dynamic Positioning Systems

For many offshore operations it is necessary to keep a vessel at a

fix position and heading. Traditionally this has been done using an
anchor spread. Nowadays, Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems are
replacing anchors.

A Dynamic Positioning system is able to control the position and

heading of a vessel by using thrusters that are constantly active
and automatically balance the environmental forces (wind, waves,
current etc.). Environmental forces tend to move the vessel off the
desired position while the automatically controlled thrust
balances those forces and keeps the vessel in position.

The main components of any DP system are the positioning

system, the DP computer and the thrusters. The positioning
system, usually a GPS, monitors the position of the vessel. When
the vessel moves off the intended position the DP computer will
calculate the required thrust which will then be applying by the
thrusters in order to maintain the position of the vessel.

The use of DP systems

Dynamic positioning systems are typically used by offshore
vessels for accurate maneuvering, for maintaining a fixed position
or for track keeping (pipe/cable laying). We usually find DP
systems on:

 Offshore drilling vessels (Drilling ships and Semi-

submersibles). A Drilling vessel will use DP to remain in a fix
location while drilling in deep water.
  Offshore support vessels: Platform supply vessels
(PSVs), Well intervention vessels, Diving Support Vessels.
Support vessel use DP to stay in a safe distance from
offshore platforms and drilling rigs.
 Pipe-laying and offshore construction vessels. Pipe-laying
vessels use DP for position keeping and track keeping.
 Dredging vessels. Suction Hopper dredgers, Rock-dumping
vessels, Trenching vessels
 Shuttle Tankers. Shuttle tankers during offloading of FPSOs.

Pros and Cons of using Dynamic Positioning

Dynamic Positioning is not always the best of the most
economical option. Mooring lines are usually a better option for
shallow water or for operation that do not require frequent
relocation of the vessel (e.g. drilling at shallow water, diving
operations in shallow waters). On the other hand DP is the best
option for deep water operations, for congested seabeds and in
situations where to vessel needs to relocated frequently

Pros

 Quick and easy positioning and maneuverability of the

vessel. No need for mooring lines, tugs boats and time
consuming anchor handling operations.
 Offshore operations can take place in ultra-deep waters were
mooring lines are difficult to installed.
 Easy to change location or weather vane in order to avoid
the effects of bad weather. Quick disconnect and sail away in
case of emergency.
  Very safe when working in congested seabeds with many
pipelines, mooring lines from other vessels or subsea
structures such as manifolds, wellheads, risers etc.

Cons:

 High Capital expenditure for designing and installing a DP

systems. High CAPEX.
 High fuel consumption and increased maintenance cost.
High OPEX.
 It poses limitations in very swallow waters and situations
were diving operations must take place close to the thrusters
 Potentially severe consequences in case of equipment failure
during pipe-laying or during operations near fixed platforms.

The components of a DP systems

There are 5 main component in a DP systems:

1. Control Systems. The DP control system calculates the

offets between the measured values of position and heading
and the required values (setpoint values). Based on the
calculated offsets the control system calculated the forces
that the thrusters must generate in order to reduce the
errors to zero.
2. Power generation
3. Thrusters and propulsion
4. Environmental reference
5. Position and Heading reference
  A taut wire
 Hipap

‫دول بتوع ال‬

keep a distance from ship

 FMEA

Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) A systematic analysis to

determine whether the redundant equipment groups in a DP
system are independent of each other and fail to a safe condition.

‫ده بيكون موجود في المراكب وبيحسب الفلير وكيفية معالجته‬

 Open pass / close pass

DP Advantages

 Vessel Heading
 Vessel Position
 Support close proximities

What is the difference between DP1,

DP2, and DP3 vessels?
DP1 has no redundancy. Loss of position may occur in the event
of a single fault.

DP2 has redundancy so that no single fault in an active system will

cause the system to fail. Loss of position should not occur from a
single fault of an active component or system such as generators,
thruster, switchboards, remote controlled valves etc., but may
occur after failure of a static component such as cables, pipes,
manual valves etc.

DP 3 also has to withstand fire or flood in any single compartment

without affecting the system. Loss of position should not occur
from any single failure including a completely burnt fire sub
division or flooded watertight compartment.