Interactive 3D desktop ship simulator for testing and training offloading manoeuvres

The paper presents a software system for interactive 3D simulations of offloading operations commonly executed in offshore scenarios. The system was developed to simulate an LNG vessel approaching or departing from a FPSO unit or LNG tanker in 3D Virtual Environment. However, it has the capabilities of a global purpose manoeuvring simulator, including state of the art models of manoeuvrability, sea-keeping and sea surface simulations, which are integrated into the system. Additionally to common real-time physically based manoeuvrability simulators, this simulator also includes real-time ship motions calculations. The system architecture is composed of three main modules that support interaction and real-time data exchange with the integrated mathematical models. The manoeuvrability module allows the user to control the steering gear, the main engine and the bow thrusters, through the Virtual Environment. The seakeeping module computes wave induced ship motions in real-time according to ship's position, heading and speed, based on pre-calculated response amplitude operators. The sea surface module generates and simulates sea states defined by wave spectra. The system takes advantage of the programmable capabilities of the graphics processor units to increase the performance and realism of the simulations. The simulator may be used by operation planners and ship masters, as a tool for testing and training different offloading scenarios and approaching manoeuvres.