Offshore staff
LONDON – BMT has completed an upgrade of single point mooring telemetry and control systems for Terminales Marítimas Patagónicas (Termap) offshore Argentina.
The systems provide real-time operational and environmental data, as well as performing control functions to manage the integrity of the catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoys that operate at Termap’s Caleta Córdova and Caleta Olivia terminals.
The buoys offload crude oil from fields in the San Jorge basin (the terminals handle one-third of all the oil produced in Argentina). During offload operation, a tugboat is deployed to tow the visiting tanker and to stabilize it during variations in wind and ocean current.
Jose Luis Marzocca, maritime superintendent at Termap, said: “We were seeking to improve the information system for the tanker approach to the CALM buoy during mooring operation and to implement a monitoring system for the three-way (buoy-tanker-tugboat) configuration that enabled the verification of the safety conditions in a permanent form.
“BMT’s proposed solution allows real-time visualization of the vessels’ positions, headings and velocities, as well as monitoring of key variables such as tanker to buoy distance and approach speed.
“By opting to integrate AIS technology into the telemetry system, there is no need to board any electronic equipment from the terminal (radio/GPS/antennas) on to the tanker. In this way, we reduced costs by avoiding the provision of such devices and the costs of intensive maintenance caused by exposition to damages or failures under extremes sea conditions.”
The upgrade also allows the terminal to remotely switch between the redundant remote telemetry units, BMT pointed out, substituting a manual switch located at the buoy. The system upgrade design included software development and production of the AIS modules and radio repeaters.
In addition, the company managed the on-site upgrade of the master, portable and remote telemetry units.
03/14/2018
