Cosco Heavy fits ABB decision support software fleetwide

Xiang Rui Kou has a cargo deck of 177 meters by 43 meters and a deadweight of more than 48,000 tonnes

JUNE 1, 2016 — China’s Cosco Heavy Transport is to fit its heavy lift vessel Xiang Rui Kou with ABB onboard motion monitoring and forecasting technology.

The system to be installed is a mixed software and motion measurement set-up. It provides clear advice on how to operate the vessel and her cargo through heavy weather, and gives clear warnings on the bridge when certain motion thresholds are exceeded.

The Xiang Rui Kou installation means that the entire Cosco Heavy fleet of seven semi-submersible heavy transport vessels will now be making use of ABB software.

Marc Beerendonk, Director of Engineering from Cosco Heavy Transport said, “Now we have connected all our vessels to this software we are able to fully utilize ABB’s Fleet Portal, so all the motion related data collected from the whole fleet can be tracked and benchmarked. By doing so, we are able to increase the safety of the voyages and the comfort level of our client significantly.”

“Ship operators are increasingly looking at ways to exploit the increased connectivity of ships and ABB has compelling Marine Software solutions to increase safety and efficiency,” said Juha Koskela, Managing Director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business unit.

The ABB motion and forecasting system combines wave measurements, weather forecasts, and navigation with ship characteristics, loading conditions, and motion sensor measurements. This facilitates continuous monitoring as well as simulation and forecasting of the ship responses and performance. Warnings can be instigated for possible hazards and their consequences.