Monitoring systems › Position and Mooring Monitoring › Tanker Berthing Aid System
Tanker Berthing Aid System (TBAS)
Position, heading and motion through the approach, hook-up and disconnection.
The RUP Tanker Berthing Aid System gives the Master and the FPSO the same view of where the tanker is and how it is moving, at every phase of an offloading operation.
It is built on the RUPDB software suite and uses a dual-antenna GNSS receiver with a motion reference unit, which measures heading directly rather than inferring it from the vessel’s track.
What it gives you
Accuracy the approach can be run on
A dual-antenna GNSS receiver with a 6-axis motion reference unit, giving position, heading and motion to the precision berthing standards call for.
Seen where the decision is made
An Ex-rated tablet puts the display in the hands of the people on the tanker, wherever they are standing, alongside the FPSO’s own view of the same operation.
Alarms tied to the operation
Out of Approach Sector, Hawser Tension and System Integrity Loss — alarms that describe what is going wrong with the berthing, not generic sensor thresholds.
Every approach on record
The TBAS server logs the operation at high resolution, so an approach can be replayed afterwards for investigation, review or training.
How the system is put together
The RUP TBAS is an integrated solution comprising:
- RUP Tanker Pod — a portable GNSS-based positioning unit with dual-antenna and motion-sensing capabilities, carried to the vessel in an IP67 transit case.
- TBAS Display Software — a data processing and display interface for situational awareness, monitoring vessel motions and environmental data in real time.
The two communicate via UHF mesh radio or 4G LTE, which keeps the link reliable whatever the tanker’s orientation or approach angle. Nothing has to be installed on the tanker for the system to work.
[Illustration to come — the Tanker Pod on the tanker and the display on the FPSO, with the radio link between them.]
[Screenshot to come — the TBAS display during an approach, showing the approach sector and the snail trail.]
Key features and benefits
- High accuracy positioning — the dual-antenna GNSS receiver, coupled with a Motion Reference Unit, provides precise positioning and orientation, meeting rigorous berthing standards.
- User interface display — an Ex-rated tablet allows operators to monitor critical data and system alerts from any location on the tanker, including in challenging offshore conditions.
- Alarm monitoring and alerts — the Tanker Pod supports alarms such as Out of Approach Sector, Hawser Tension and System Integrity Loss, safeguarding both personnel and equipment.
- Seamless communication — UHF mesh radio keeps communication robust across variable tanker orientations, while 4G LTE offers an optional direct connection to FPSO systems.
- Data logging and replay — the TBAS Server records detailed data, supporting historic replay of vessel motions for post-incident analysis or training.
Component specifications
Two parts, specified separately — the unit that goes to the tanker, and the software the operation is watched on.
Tanker Pod
Encased in an IP67-rated transit case, featuring:
- Dual-antenna GNSS receiver
- 6-axis Motion Reference Unit
- WiFi hotspot and 4G LTE
- 48-hour battery runtime
- Alarm and status indicators
- Manual alarm override button
Display software
Runs on the vessel, on the FPSO, or on both:
- Vessel and environmental displays
- Integration with ICSS telemetry, AIS and hawser tension data
- Historic snail trail and ghost vessel motion displays
- Windows and Linux support, for deployment across desktops through to handheld tablets
- High-resolution data logging for playback
Where it is used
The RUP Tanker Berthing Aid System is engineered to support the safety and efficiency of tanker and FPSO berthing and offloading operations, aiding operators and Masters through each phase of the approach. It gives a high level of situational awareness, helping reduce the risks associated with the dynamic environment of offshore offloading.
Where it is the FPSO’s own station-keeping that needs watching rather than the approaching vessel, that is covered by the RUP Excursion Monitoring System.
[Photo to come — a tanker on approach to an FPSO during an offloading operation.]
Where to next
The Tanker Berthing Aid System sits in Position and Mooring Monitoring, one of six monitoring areas WISE Group delivers.
In this area: RUP Excursion Monitoring System — station-keeping against an excursion envelope, with mooring line tension as an option
Related systems: Vessel Motion Monitoring · MetOcean and weather monitoring · Visual monitoring
Also useful: RUPDB SCADA software · Sensors and instruments · Service and support
Get in touch
For more information on how the RUP TBAS can support your berthing operations, tell us about the field, the tanker and the offloading arrangement and we will come back on what a system would need to cover. We can also arrange a demonstration of the display software. You can also contact us directly.