Ballast control system

Designed to transport megastructures to remote, offshore locations, the Dockwise Vanguard relies on Emerson technologies for ballast control and tank gauging system. Dockwise, a global leader in the transport and offshore installation of extremely large and heavy structures, has selected Emerson Process Management, a business of Emerson, to supply the control systems that help  maintain stability and structural integrity for Dockwise’s semi-submersible heavy transport vessel, the largest of its kind in the world.

Named Dockwise Vanguard, the new vessel is designed for heavy marine transport and offshore dry docking, enabling oil and gas operators to design and build larger and heavier offshore structures such as Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Because of the Dockwise Vanguard’s loading capacity of up to 110,000 metric tonnes and its bowless design, it is now possible to fabricate these megastructures and load and transport them intact to remote offshore wells or production sites. This helps cut costs, lower risks, improve schedule flexibility and reduce offshore man-hours required to get these megastructures into operation.

Emerson supplies a comprehensive ballast control system, which is responsible for helping the Dockwise Vanguard submerge and rise with stability and integrity. It relies on tank gauging systems that provide highly accurate level measurements for load calculations as well as high level and overfill alarms. The Dockwise Vanguard also uses Emerson’s Smart Wireless technology to measure and transmit tank level data to the wheelhouse.

"Emerson’s reliable and highly sophisticated ballast control technologies are an important factor in allowing us to provide this first-of-its-kind carrying capacity, as well as provide a dry dock capability at offshore production sites for repair and retrofit, which saves significant time and money," says Eugène van Dodeweerd, Manager, Fleet Supervision of Dockwise. "Conditions in the offshore environment require ballast control that is also easy to operate and maintain and Emerson has proven the reliability of its marine tank management systems on a number of other Dockwise vessels."

"The design and execution of the Dockwise Vanguard fits in perfectly with Emerson’s ‘Never Been Done Before’ goals. This vessel redefines the entire Heavy Marine Transport industry," said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. "We are proud of our contribution to the ballast systems of this innovative vessel."

The Dockwise Vanguard was awarded a 2012 Spotlight on New Technology Award by the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) which recognises innovations that are leading the industry into the future.