DP Operator Manual

Section 8 Light weight Taut wire systems

Systems
Made by several manufacturers, the principle of operation is similar, it has spawned
some hybrids, such as moon-pool taut wire, horizontal taut wire, and gangway
reference. This will be mentioned briefly as the principle of operation is similar.

Components (usually in an integral unit)

1. Constant tension motor
2. Wire on a drum
3. spooling gear
4. sensor head
5. deployment boom
6. Clump weight
7. A system of measuring and correcting for the effects of pitch and roll

Mode of operation
1. Before use the system will need to be switched on and allowed to warm up,
this includes cooling water on some systems
2. The system will also need any fastenings releasing
3. An idea of the water depth is useful
4. When on location the weight is raised clear of its holder
5. The boom is then lowered, or swung out.
6. Lower the weight to the seabed
7. Switch to constant tension, or mooring, this function may be automatic
8. Advise DP control, who can then select the taut wire into the system.
9. The sensor then measures the fore, and aft, and port and starboard angles
and use these signals to maintain position or move the vessel

8 Light weight Taut wire systems.doc Page 1 of 5

 DP Operator Manual

Light Weight Taut Wire

January, 99 4

Sources of error and operational constraints

Water Column
The constant tension motor keeps the wire as straight as possible, however the
column of water pushes on the wire, and if the flow is strong enough or the column of
water big enough (in deeper water), it can cause the wire to bow out in an erratic
manner

Ships structure
If the vessel moves towards the position that the clump weight is deployed,
eventually the wire will touch the ships side. At that time the reference will become
perfect in that the angle at the sensor head will now not change no matter how far
the ship travels. There is usually an alarm that causes the taut wire to be rejected by
the DP system if this happens

Angular limits
As the wire moves away from the vertical, there is a gradual decrease in resolution,
there is also an increased risk of dragging the clump weight. To keep the resolution
within acceptable limits an angular limit of about 10 to 20 degrees ( depending on
system) is applied. If the wire reaches this limit, there is usually a warning. The
system may still use the taut wire depending on circumstances.

Pitch and Roll

The constant tension motor picks up slack, or pays out wire as the vessel pitches
and rolls. However there are limits to the speed, if the vessel rolls, or pitches to quick

8 Light weight Taut wire systems.doc Page 2 of 5

 DP Operator Manual
it is possible to put extra tension on the wire and lift the weight, this will cause the
weight to be repositioned, and cause the vessel to be re-position, as the DP
computer will think that the vessel, not the weight has moved.

Sub-sea damage
The clump weight weighs in the region of 500 kg, if this is landed on sub-sea
equipment, or dragged into it, damage may be caused. Care must be taken when
deploying or repositioning (re-plumbing) the taut wire weight.

Range of movement
As previously mentioned there are angular limits set into the taut wire, this means
that the amount the vessel can move before a warning or alarm sounds decreases as
water depth decreases, until a point is reached that the taut wire will not calibrate into
the DP system due to the normal movement of the vessel.

Information
The taut wire systems only give positioning information relative to the clump weight,
there is no geographic information.

Power supply
The taut wire demand is normally too much for the UPS, so the taut wire normally
runs off the ships main supply. Taut wire may be lost in the event of a black, or brown
out.

Operational notes
1. To make life easy people have been known to attach HPR beacons to the
taut wire. This is a very BAD practice. Should the taut wire drag both
references will move, this could defeat voting used by 3 enabled reference
systems.
2. When the taut wire is at a large angle if the weight is lifted it will swing back
in, allow for this.
3. if the vessel is rolling and pitching when the clump weight is recovered, as it
clears the water it may start to swing. This may cause problems when trying
to stow the weight. If this happens one solution is to try and throw a line round
the wire and control the weight.
4. If the seabed is soft, the clump weight may sink in and not lift by the raise
action. You can try putting strain on the wire and let the movement of the
vessel break it out, or try breaking the weight out using the boom up action. It
is quite possible the wire will break in this situation.
5. Reference 4, always keep a spare weight, wire, and fittings onboard.
6. The wire wears as it runs over the pullies, it is usual practice to crop ( cut a
length off the end of the wire) at intervals to move the wire along.
7. Keep a note of taut wire use and cropping, so that you know when to crop,
and how much wire is left.
8. Not knowing the length of wire can be embarrassing

8 Light weight Taut wire systems.doc Page 3 of 5

 DP Operator Manual

Variations on the taut wire theme

Moon Pool Taut Wire

Wire
angle

Depressor
weight Seabed

The Moon Pool Taut Wire is mounted inboard with a depressor weight deployed through the
bottom of the vessel through a small moon pool or wet well. The gimbal head is incorporated
into an elevator unit that is lowered from the stowage level down to the keel level, from where
the weight and wire are lowered. Movement compensation is provided by hydraulic
accumulator, and positioning data is obtained and processed in the same way as in the Light
Weight Taut Wire system.

For the Moon Pool Taut Wire a disadvantage arises in shallow water. Since the gimbal head
is that much closer to the seabed than with a deck mounted unit, the horizontal scope of the
system, which already is limited in shallow water, is further reduced.

Surface Taut Wire

8 Light weight Taut wire systems.doc Page 4 of 5

 DP Operator Manual

The Surface Taut Wire gives position reference relative to a fixed structure (platform,
buoy, etc.).
The wire is passed across to the platform adjacent and secured. No boom is
needed, instead the sensor is located atop a short vertical tower. The principles are
the same as for the vertical taut wire systems.
The range for a Surface Taut Wire System is around 50 m. For longer distances the
accuracy would be reduced due to the curvature of the wire.

There is also something called a gangway reference system, the pivot at the inboard
end of the gangway is used to give a relative bearing, and the sliding section of the
gangway is used to measure change in range. This reference is lost if the gangway is
emergency disconnected

8 Light weight Taut wire systems.doc Page 5 of 5