A safe harbour

Aside from SafePilotPro, which delivers situational awareness and centimeter-level accuracy, he reels off an impressive list of Trelleborg’s comprehensive LNG portfolio, including environmental monitoring and high-pressure natural gas transmission. Gen3 Ship-to-shore link (SSL) and slide-in, slide-out (SISO) fender systems are among the other solutions that facilitate seamless and efficient LNG transfers.

 

In comparison with other countries, the German port authorities have strict regulations regarding LNG facilities and related operations. This creates a significant challenge due to the dynamic nature of the LNG-delivery vessel and the floating FSRU. Even the slightest impact during berthing could potentially cause the FSRU to collide with the jetty, causing significant damage.

 

“When a vessel approaches a berth, the authorities look at the centimeters-per-second speed of approach because it’s such a heavy object going toward the infrastructure,” explains Mikkelsen. “The jetty can withstand considerable berthing forces. While the fenders along the jetty provide some protection, there is still a risk of potential damage. As an LNG vessel comes side-by-side with a fixed FSRU at the berth, these fenders experience an impact.

 

“Arriving at the FSRU, the LNG needs to have visuals on its speed of approach and berthing maneuvers to monitor and safeguard the berthing operation,” Mikkelsen says. “The approach speed of the LNG carrier is critical, as it has a great influence on the berthing energy and therefore the fenders between the LNG carrier and FSRU and the fenders between the FSRU and the berth.”

 

Many terminals use laser docking systems for berthing. However, Mikkelsen explains, with an FSRU moored to the jetty, you would not have any measuring tools or displays accessible in a traditional laser docking design. This was brought to Höegh’s attention, who then suggested that Uniper, the FSRU terminal operator, contact Trelleborg.

 

“Our system utilizes Real-time Kinematic (RTK) corrections to deliver the positional awareness and speed accuracy of global navigation satellite systems to one centimeter per second and an independent heading accuracy to 0.01 degrees,” says Mikkelsen. “It’s a bit like when you’re parking your car. The reflection of the sensor tells you the wall is nearby. In this case, the FSRU is the wall you don’t want to hit, but you have to be close to it to align the vessels and connect the hoses from ship-to-ship.

 

“We installed a fixed piloting unit on the FSRU as the base location and a portable piloting unit on board the LNG carrier. Based on the signal transmitted between those two units, you can get a centimeter-level accuracy of the carrier’s location.”

 

And, adds Mikkelsen, “Uniper brought in independent experts to measure if the navigation system was operating correctly. Once they signed it off, we started receiving requests from various engineers to replicate what we did at Wilhelmshaven.”

 

Although Trelleborg’s positioning and berthing technology features in different configurations elsewhere, its successful deployment at Wilhelmshaven – after just two months of preparation – has created great interest. So has a similar project at the new Gasgrid LNG terminal in Inkoo, Finland, which uses SafePilot Offshore software with SafePilot CAT MAX portable pilot units (PPUs), SafeTug software and Gen3 SSL systems.

 

“It’s interesting that within just three to four months we took on two LNG terminal projects,” says Mikkelsen. “The authorities of Germany and Finland trust and value the solution we’re offering.”