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DP
SENSORS
DP sensors provide the real-time vessel data required for accurate and stable Dynamic Positioning control. They measure vessel motion, heading, environmental forces and position, forming the internal data foundation of any DP system.
Subsea Connect develops and supplies a comprehensive range of high-performance DP sensors under the SSC product family, engineered for reliability, redundancy and long-term operation in demanding offshore environments.
Role of Sensors in Dynamic Positioning
While reference systems determine a vessel’s position relative to external objects, sensors continuously measure the vessel’s own behaviour and environment. This includes motion, heading, wind forces and inertial movement.
Reliable sensor data is essential for:
- Stable DP control
- Accurate thrust and power allocation
- Fault detection and redundancy management
- Safe operation under degraded conditions
Subsea Connect sensors are designed to deliver consistent, predictable output under all operating conditions.
Sensor Technologies
Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
SSC inertial navigation systems combine high-grade inertial sensors with GNSS aiding to provide accurate position, velocity and attitude information. These systems are well suited for DP operations requiring high accuracy and fast response.
Motion Reference Units (MRU)
SSC motion reference units provide precise roll, pitch and heave measurements used for DP control, crane operations, gangways and motion compensation systems. They are engineered for stable performance across a wide range of sea states.
Gyro & Heading Sensors
SSC gyro and heading sensors deliver accurate, low-drift heading information essential for DP stability and vessel orientation. They are designed for continuous offshore operation with predictable long-term behaviour.
Position-Reckoning Systems
SSC position-reckoning systems fuse inertial data with GNSS input to maintain continuous and reliable position and heading output. These systems are designed to remain stable during GNSS degradation, spoofing, jamming or temporary signal loss, supporting DP operations in congested or high-interference environments.
Wind Sensors
SSC GNSS and DGPS sensors provide satellite-based position input for DP systems. They are designed for high signal integrity, multipath resistance and stable operation in offshore environments.
Radar Reference Systems
Accurate wind speed and direction measurements are essential for modelling environmental forces acting on the vessel. SSC wind sensors provide real-time wind data used by DP systems for thrust prediction and control.
Redundancy & Signal Integrity
Subsea Connect sensor architectures are designed with redundancy, independence and signal diversity in mind. Multiple sensors can be configured to meet DP1, DP2 or DP3 requirements, ensuring continued operation in the event of sensor failure or degraded data quality.
Special attention is given to signal validation, filtering and fault detection to maintain reliable DP performance.
System Integration
All SSC sensors are designed for seamless integration with DP control systems and automation platforms, including MIDAS. Sensors can be deployed as part of a complete DP solution or integrated into existing installations during retrofit and upgrade projects.
Applications
DP sensors are used across a wide range of offshore and marine operations, including:
- Offshore construction and installation
- Wind farm operations
- Survey and inspection vessels
- Subsea operations and ROV support
- Station-keeping and close-proximity work
Reliable Data for
Reliable DP
Subsea Connect DP sensors deliver the accurate, stable and reliable data required for safe Dynamic Positioning operations. Designed for real-world offshore conditions, our sensors support consistent DP performance across all operational scenarios.
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