Abstract: Rig-move and anchorhandling (AH) operations are among the most complex and dangerous operations done by offshore vessels on the continental shelf. Steadily increasing water depth and operations under more extreme conditions are challenging the vessels and their crews. After many fatal accidents the Norwegian shipowners and oil companies now look for a best practice to improve safety under these operations. Part of this philosophy is to use simulators for training AH-crews and during planning of operations. Due to long experience in maritime simulation and dynamic positioning (DP) training the Aalesund University College (AUC) has been chosen as a natural partner in implementation and commissioning of such a simulator. AUC did the first pre-project in 1997, and has in 2002 finalized the project specification and started the building of the new full mission AH-simulator. The simulator will be a copy of the most modern bridges delivered from Rolls-Royce to Farstad Shipping, and be the first simulator of this type and complexity in the world. Main features will be:

　

 This paper will present the technological innovation and challenges, as well as the training and scenario issues related to the new AH-simulator.

　

 Since the offshore industry became a more and more important arena for sailors from the west coast of Norway, the Aalesund University College (AUC) started tailoring of relevant training programs and educations for this group in the early nineties. Building of a new shiphandling simulator and development of a new simulator concept for Dynamic Positionoing (DP) training was part of this commitment. Already during the planning process of AUC's shiphandling simulator in 1997, the question of an anchorhandling (AH) simulator arose. Due to faculty capacity problems and need for consolidation the issue couldn't be realized at that time. In 1999 AUC was appointed as a hub for maritime education in Norway, with special responsibility for near coast and offshore operations. Further development was therefore invited for by the Ministry of Research and Education. The fact that these areas of operation also were affected with high risk and serious accidents lead to much support from the industry as well. Two major development projects were therefore reconsidered and started. The first was the High Speed Craft (HSC) simulator [1] and the second was a new full mission AH-simulator. AH-vessels are at the moment doing extremely complex and costly rig moves in water depths of more than 2000 m, and the vessel have machinery giving them a bollard pull of around 300 tons. The winches often have a capacity of 600 tons or more. Most of the modern AH-vessels in the world as well as the winch systems are designed and/or build in the Aalesund region (fig. 1).

　

　

 Because of the complexity of the AH operation and the high cost of the vessels and rigs involved, we believe that a dedicated simulator system will maintain and improve safety in such operations. A simulator will also be an important element in R&D. as well as the operators' commitments to ISM [2] and Best Practice [3] regimes. This paper will present the State of the Art AH- simulator currently under development and commissioning at AUC. The challenges and necessary technological compromises will also be discussed. According to present plans the simulator will be ready for testing during the fall of 2003. Even if the integrated DP system is an important part of the AH simulator the description of training concept related specific to the integration of DP will be outside the scope of this paper.

　

1.1 Introductory Anchor Handling

　

 Many floating offshore units, such as drilling rigs, production ships and pipe barges are normally kept in position or on track by means of anchors. When these units need to change location the anchors have to be moved by means of specialized tugs like the AH vessels (fig.1) [4, 5]. The anchor systems consist often of eight mooring lines running in catenary shape from the rig to the anchor (fig. 2). Often 2 - 4 vessels will cooperate in the operation, which briefly can be outlined by:

　

 In case of barge handling the AH vessel will pick up a buoy connected to the anchor and will consequently not need to use chaser to pick up the anchor.

　

 Based on more than 20 years of experience with navigation and shiphandling simulators we believe that the new AH simulator will be an important tool for training of navigators and winch operators (normally engineers), as well as the deck crew. It is therefore important that complete AH handling operations and planning can be undertaken on the simulator. This will also include testing and validation of safety procedures and "best practice", which will include all crew members as well as management.

　

　

 How responsibility is shared during AH operations can vary quite a bit, but the following can be considered as most relevant:

　

 Before the simulator concept was finally decided, a group of experienced partners from the industry was gathered to agree on the training objectives and content of future AH training courses. This included navigators and engineers from Farstad Shipping, engineers from winch producer Rolls-Royce Marine (RR), marine supervisors from Norsk Hydro and instructors from AUC. The group agreed on a two stage process, basic and advanced training.

　

　

2.1 Basic Training

　

 The objective of the Anchor Handling Course is to familiarise and train the participant's ability to plan, prepare and carry out basic anchor handling operations under normal condition.

　

 The course consists of theoretical lessons on anchor handling and equipment related to the operation, familiarisation with the bridge equipment and layout and practical simulator exercises on simple operations.

　

 The practical exercises will take place in the simulator designed as AH vessel aft bridge.

　

Aim: To give an understanding of the necessity of a good relation between the human - and technical factors, as well as give knowledge and understanding of:

　

Form:

 Classroom instruction combined with syndicate work. Simulator for basic training in planning and execution of anchor handling operations. The role of the participants will during the exercises change between anchor handling team and observer team. Course duration is anticipated to 4 - 5 days (4 - 6 participants)

　

2.2 Advanced training

　

 The purpose of the simulator course is to exercise and illustrate Anchor Handling operations in theory and practice. In as realistic conditions as possible the crew will carry out a number of difficult exercises in the simulator. The scenarios will, based upon safety aspects and company procedures, be complicated in several ways. The crew will be exposed to stressing factors such as wind, current time pressure, internal and external communication, handle- and machinery breakdown, etc.

　

 The purpose of the whole training program is to reduce the number of accidents due to human errors and thus increase safety at sea It is important to emphasise that the purpose of the course is to increase safety by focusing on the human factors elements, procedures and ship handling. The individual evaluation will be used only as a part of the total impression of the crew's performance and will eventually form the basis for changes in training and procedures.

　

 In order to carry out the course in a positive atmosphere it is important that the participants see him/herself as an element in a total evaluation of a team and that this evaluation is understood as a tool for increasing safety at sea.

　

 To fulfil these objectives the simulator should provide realistic performance related to the following operations:

　

Aim: Extensive training in planning and execution of anchor handling operations where the equipment is used to the maximum limits. To give an understanding of the necessity of a good relation between human and technical factors. To obtain and exchange experiences between the participants.

　

 The exercises shall include elements of lessons learned from earlier accidents onboard the vessels during A/H operations.

・Insufficient knowledge to the A/H equipment.

・Insufficient understanding of the forces on the A/H equipment.

・Lack of experience.

・Poor planning and risk analysis.

・Lack of risk analysis and decision-making.

・Poor communication between winch operator and navigator.

・Poor team work.

・Negligence and procedure errors.

・Insufficient ability cope stress in a stressful environment.

・Working environment/workload.

・Design errors.

　

Form:

 The training will apart from the planning take place in the simulator. The role of the participants will during the exercises change between anchor handling team and observer team. Course duration is anticipated to 3 - 4 days with 4 - 6 participants.

　

 Apart from the mentioned working group of expert two groups of students were involved. One of the groups were nautical students doing their B.Sc. thesis on AH. They made an excellent work, collecting and systemizing material for planning and development of AH courses and simulator development [9]. The other group was computer science students doing their thesis in computer graphics. This group made an excellent job in modelling simulator models of winch system and deck equipment on an AH vessel, included different simulator models for surveillance cameras on the AH bridge [10] (fig. 4). One of the nautical students continued the work after he started as a navigator on one of the AH vessels from Farstad Shipping.