Navis Engineering delivers Dynamic Positioning technology alternative
Navis Engineering Oy has delivered an innovative steering and manoeuvring solution for superyachts, using next-generation Dynamic Positioning technology.…
The 66.7m Hetairos, delivered by Finnish shipyard Baltic Yachts earlier this year, is home to a modified Dynamic Positioning (DP) system. Navis Engineering Oy, supplier of DP technology to the offshore vessel market has installed their JP4000 Joystick Control System on the sailing yacht. This system was the result of an investigation conducted by the company’s St. Petersburg-based research and development team into the superyacht’s requirement of a fully-functioning DP system. The investigation revealed that full scale DP technology was unnecessary on-board the vessel, but enhanced steering and positioning capabilities were imperative.
The resulting JP4000 Joystick Control System installed on Hetairos is a next-generation version of the existing JP3000, but specifically tailored to the everyday needs of the superyacht owner. Navis Marketing manager, Nikolay Ovcharenko, explained, “we believe what mega-yachts really need is a simplified, non-class DP system.” The JP4000 incorporates a three-axis joystick which provides a high degree of control, while delivering almost the same level of functionality as an offshore DP system, yet dispensing features that are not required for superyachts. Navis Engineering has named these dispensed features as low and high speed tracking, target following, remote center of rotation, and sophisticated heading and position control modes.
The JP4000 combines joystick control with the new generation Autopilot AP4000, one of a new generation of autopilots that can be used to control the heading of vessels with two independent rudders. This hybrid system incorporates six control modes for joystick and autopilot respectively, and is designed to offer highly precise, multi-directional manoeuvring at low speeds of under 5 knots, ideal for restricted spaces such as marinas.
According to Ovcharenko, “as it can be supplied both as a standard package or a black box solution, system integrators have more freedom in implementing the bridge design.” Furthermore, Navis has said it has been specially configured to work well with typical superyacht propulsion systems, which are not usually designed for operation in DP systems. Navis has designed the JP4000 so it is able to work with the nine most common superyacht propulsion configurations. Its graphic user interface has also been simplified so the captain is not provided with information essential to an offshore DP operator, but irrelevant to a superyacht captain. It has three daytime and three night-time palettes, while the redesigned control panel, using IP67 ingress protection, is more suitable for outdoor installations.
The JP4000 is non-class, which means neither the vessel nor crew require any specific DP certification. “To control the system you do not need to be NI-certified,” said Mikhail Andrianov, Navis Product Manager. Another advantage of the system, claimed Andrianov, is the opportunity to reduce fuel consumption: “Everyone has to think about fuel costs today and the sophisticated autopilot inside this system is a key fuel saving system onboard.”
There are, however, still a number of obstacles to overcome. One is the extra cost of the electromechanical wiring of the single joystick, which though less than that of a class-notated DP system, is still significant. A notable problem is the traditionally different approach of superyachts and the offshore sector in relation to the specification of engines, thrusters and steering systems. Offshore vessels tend to be capable of continuous operation if required, whereas Andrianov highlighted that, despite the high quality and relatively powerful propulsion of superyachts, “the design and rated power of the thrusters is not sufficient to operate in DP mode continuously for any length of time.” A sound technical approach with regard to combining the main engines and thrusters is therefore necessary for a reliable automatic system.
Navis is hoping for more superyacht projects to follow, and has already confirmed a contract to fit the JP4000 and Autopilot AP4000 combination to a Benetti build, hull number FB353.
Navis Engineering Profile | Navis Engineering Website
The JP4000
The resulting JP4000 Joystick Control System installed on Hetairos is a next-generation version of the existing JP3000, but specifically tailored to the everyday needs of the superyacht owner. Navis Marketing manager, Nikolay Ovcharenko, explained, “we believe what mega-yachts really need is a simplified, non-class DP system.” The JP4000 incorporates a three-axis joystick which provides a high degree of control, while delivering almost the same level of functionality as an offshore DP system, yet dispensing features that are not required for superyachts. Navis Engineering has named these dispensed features as low and high speed tracking, target following, remote center of rotation, and sophisticated heading and position control modes.
The JP4000 combines joystick control with the new generation Autopilot AP4000, one of a new generation of autopilots that can be used to control the heading of vessels with two independent rudders. This hybrid system incorporates six control modes for joystick and autopilot respectively, and is designed to offer highly precise, multi-directional manoeuvring at low speeds of under 5 knots, ideal for restricted spaces such as marinas.
According to Ovcharenko, “as it can be supplied both as a standard package or a black box solution, system integrators have more freedom in implementing the bridge design.” Furthermore, Navis has said it has been specially configured to work well with typical superyacht propulsion systems, which are not usually designed for operation in DP systems. Navis has designed the JP4000 so it is able to work with the nine most common superyacht propulsion configurations. Its graphic user interface has also been simplified so the captain is not provided with information essential to an offshore DP operator, but irrelevant to a superyacht captain. It has three daytime and three night-time palettes, while the redesigned control panel, using IP67 ingress protection, is more suitable for outdoor installations.
The JP4000's Joystick Control System
The JP4000 is non-class, which means neither the vessel nor crew require any specific DP certification. “To control the system you do not need to be NI-certified,” said Mikhail Andrianov, Navis Product Manager. Another advantage of the system, claimed Andrianov, is the opportunity to reduce fuel consumption: “Everyone has to think about fuel costs today and the sophisticated autopilot inside this system is a key fuel saving system onboard.”
There are, however, still a number of obstacles to overcome. One is the extra cost of the electromechanical wiring of the single joystick, which though less than that of a class-notated DP system, is still significant. A notable problem is the traditionally different approach of superyachts and the offshore sector in relation to the specification of engines, thrusters and steering systems. Offshore vessels tend to be capable of continuous operation if required, whereas Andrianov highlighted that, despite the high quality and relatively powerful propulsion of superyachts, “the design and rated power of the thrusters is not sufficient to operate in DP mode continuously for any length of time.” A sound technical approach with regard to combining the main engines and thrusters is therefore necessary for a reliable automatic system.
Navis is hoping for more superyacht projects to follow, and has already confirmed a contract to fit the JP4000 and Autopilot AP4000 combination to a Benetti build, hull number FB353.
Navis Engineering Profile | Navis Engineering Website
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