Power management upgrade improves overview and user-friendliness

With a fleet of highly advanced offshore service vessels, Island Offshore is a leading provider of high-quality solutions to the offshore oil industry, meaning that the Norwegian-based company is highly dependent on having a top-tuned and fully functional fleet. Island Offshore is, among others, responsible for the fleet management on the well stimulation vessel Island Patriot which performs acid and propped fracturing treatments in the North Sea. Island Patriot has a fully equipped R&D laboratory, offering the capability to carry out a wide range of client-specific testing and is owned by StimWell Services, a global provider of vessel-mounted stimulation services.

After having received an end-of-life notice regarding the power management system Delomatic-3 from DEIF, StimWell decided to upgrade the power management system onboard the well stimulation vessel Island Patriot. The 86 meters long and 9 meters wide well stimulation vessel that is used for worldwide operations had the power management system Delomatic-3 installed. So the risk of not being able to get spare parts and unplanned downtime made StimWell, and Island Offshore start thinking on alternatives.

Cost-efficient upgrade with reuse of wirings

The crew had been happy with the Delomatic-3 system that was installed on the newbuilt vessel in 2005 and the opportunity to upgrade to the new generation system Delomatic-4 was both convenient, cost-efficient, and easy. Fitting the place in the existing switchboard, meant that the upgrade required only a minimum of re-wiring and the current protocol to the alarm and monitoring system could to some extent be adjusted to match.

The fact that the Delomatic-4 system is more or less identical with the previous system makes it easy for the staff members to use as they already are familiar with the controller.

The system was prepared onshore, and DEIF and the supplier of the integrated automation system (IAS) cooperated on making communication between the systems.

In February 2020, the Island Patriot was due for a 15 years class and yard stay, and during the stay, DEIF’s Solution Manager Simon H. Pedersen went to Orskov Yard to install the new system. Having installed the system, he ended his stay with commissioning the Delomatic-4 system and making class approval tests with DNV-GL and DP FMEA sea trial.

Improved integration and better clarity

Having used the new system for some time, Island Offshore is happy with the upgrade and has noted some beneficial side effects. “So far, we feel that it is easier to use and gives us a better overview over the system,” explains Ship Manager Alf Magnussen.

Simon H. Pedersen explains that upgrades have been made to the new generation Delomatic system, meaning an improved integration of the power management and alarm system, providing the operators with better user experience. Besides, the retrofit comprised the installation of an AGI-415 touch screen, providing the staff with one point control and supervision of the power management system.

“It has been a good experience working with DEIF on this project, they have provided a good service and been co-operative,” Alf concludes. Island Patriot is back at sea and ready for future operations with an updated and modern power management system.