The Netherlands: Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz Cooperates with Amarcon

Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz and the Dutch decision support-software developer Amarcon have closed an agreement with regards to DP training courses on the DP simulator bridge located at the Willem Barentsz in the Netherlands.

Amarcon’s DP Forecast functionality is part of the decision support product OCTOPUS-Onboard. OCTOPUS-Onboard is a state-of-the-art modular ship motion monitoring and decision support system for ships and other floating structures. In December of 2011 The DP simulator from the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz was equipped with a complete OCTOPUS-Onboard configuration, including motion monitoring & forecast and the in 2010 launched DP-Forecast functionality. The DP software gives offshore vessels the possibility to make use of a safe time window for their weather-sensitive operations. An important remark has to be made here. The OCTOPUS-DP functionality can not be compared with already existing Dynamic Positioning Systems. Where traditional DP systems try to keep the vessels position during an offshore operation, OCTOPUS-DP should be seen as an addition to the actual onboard DP system. A forecast is given if the vessel is capable of maintaining her position and heading in changing environmental and weather conditions, hours and days ahead. Safe heading sectors and operational windows are shown on a devoted OCTOPUS screen on the bridge of the simulator at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz training facility.

The Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz is currently developing study material for specialized DP training courses for students that study at the facility. The study material shall also be used and in order to provide specialized trainings for future DP Operators that work within the offshore construction industry. This way DP Operators and students that study at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz will have a more profound understanding of not only the actual onboard Dynamic Positioning system, but also gain more knowledge about operational windows and planning of DP operations.

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World Maritime News Staff, January 12, 2012; Image: Amarcon