Royal IHC and Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) have completed testing and assessment of the onboard dynamic positioning (DP) system of the autonomous windfarm service vessel T60-18.
The tests were carried out in MARIN's basins in Wageningen, wherein the vessel was subjected to simulated challenging environmental conditions similar to those in the central North Sea with three- to 3.5-metre significant wave heights.
Development of the vessel is scheduled to be completed in December 2020, by which time Royal IHC expects training of future crews will commence using a new dedicated simulator.
Once in service, the vessel will be able to function autonomously with the aid of its onboard software though a duty officer at the wheelhouse will supervise operations for safety purposes.
