The Taut Wire position reference system

Taut Wire differs from other position reference systems by being chiefly mechanical in
principle, not reliant upon radio or acoustic transmissions.

15.1 Taut Wire system principle

CENTRE OF
ROTATION

x
y

D D CENTRE OF
ROTATION
DEPRESSOR
WEIGHT

Y X

Y = D tan + y X = D tan + x

A Taut Wire system consists of a constant tension winch unit fitted on deck, with a boom
or 'A'-frame projecting over the side of the vessel. Wire from the winch drum passes over
a sheave at the end of the boom, through a sensor head, and terminating in a depressor
weight on the seabed. Position reference is obtained from measurements of wire angle
and water depth, the position of the vessel being defined relative to the location of the
stationary depressor weight.

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Bandak Mk. VIII

A typical Taut Wire system is the Bandak Light Weight Taut Wire Mark VIII. In this system
the depressor weight has a mass of 350 kg, while 500m of 5mm wire is provided.
Maximum wire angle is 30 degrees to the vertical in any direction, and the maximum water
depth for use is 350m. The motor and drive unit is mounted on deck at the side of the
ship, with the system control panel adjacent.

The deployment method uses an A frame, which stows in the vertical position. To deploy,
the A frame is lowered to the horizontal, projecting overside.
The weight is then lowered to the seabed. Once at the seabed the system automatically
puts the winch into tension or "mooring" mode. At this moment the wire length deployed is
read by the system. Subsequent movements of the vessel are accommodated by the
spooling of the winch, while wire angles to the vertical, both in the longitudinal (fore-and-
aft) and in the athwartships plane are continuously monitored by the sensor units at the
end of the boom.
Taut wire signals are fed back to the DP through a suitable interface and can be accepted
by the operator at the DP console.
The system continually corrects input data for values of roll and pitch such that wire angles
are relative to the true vertical instead of the local ship vertical. Corrections are also
applied to allow for the offset distance of the position of the sensor head relative to the
Centre of Rotation of the vessel.
Frequently, the Taut Wire system is fitted with remote controls such that the DP operator
may deploy the boom and weight from the bridge. Often, however, this facility is not used

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unless the operator can actually see the system he is deploying; it is not a particularly safe
practice to remotely operate the Taut Wire without being able to see what is happening.

A Taut Wire system is particularly robust and reliable, together with being accurate.
Maintenance is necessary but this is under the control of the vessel operators - there is no
remote and inaccessible equipment involved. Spare wires and depressor weights can be
carried and the system may be regularly oiled and serviced to schedule. A worn, stranded
or frayed wire can be replaced. In constant use the wire may wear at the same spot all the
time. To overcome this problem the wire can be unshipped from the weight and cropped
back approximately ten metres every couple of weeks or so. This brings a new portion of
wire onto the sheaves when working and also freshens the connection to the depressor
weight - another point of possible failure. It is important to log the remaining wire length at
each "crop".

15.2 Taut Wire range limitations

MOONPOOL TAUT WIRE

NO BILGE KEEL LIMIT

SHORTER RANGE BUT VERY LIMITED
IN SHALLOW WATER RANGES IN SHALLOW
WATER

BILGE
KEEL
LIMIT

LONGER RANGE IN
DEEPER WATER

One drawback of the system is its limited operating range, due to the 30-degree wire angle
limit. This limit is imposed due to the increasing risk of dragging the weight at larger
angles. A dragging weight could, of course, lead to immediate position errors from the
system. The operating range is thus dependent upon water depth; the deeper the water
the greater the range of cover. Another limit is imposed by the bilge keel of the vessel
impinging upon the wire before the 30-degree angle is reached.

Often a vessel is fitted with two Taut Wire systems, one on each side, allowing the
operator to select the most advantageous system for the circumstances. If the vessel is
working close alongside a platform, with divers or ROV deployed into the platform, then
the Taut Wire on the side away from the platform will be used. This keeps the wire away
from the operation and also allows the vessel to deploy the Taut Wire before making her
final move onto the worksite without the wire coming onto the bilge keel.

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In some vessels the Taut Wire system is fitted at the forward extremity - right on the bow
of the vessel. One problem associated with this location is the large accelerations
experienced in moderate to rough seas due to vessel pitching. Occasionally system
dropout will result from the winch spooling rate being unable to cope with the pitching.

15.3 Tautwire deployment

TAUTWIRE DEPLOYED
ON SIDE AWAY FROM
PLATFORM OR STRUCTURE

THE TAUT WIRE SHOULD BE DEPLOYED

WITH A POSITIVE OUTWARD ANGLE
SUCH THAT POSITION REFERENCE FROM
IT IS MAINTAINED DURING THE EARLY
STAGES OF A MOVE AWAY

TW ANGLE
LIMIT
IF THE TAUT WIRE IS DEPLOYED PLUMB
WITH THE VESSEL ON THE WORKING
POSITION, THEN ANY MOVE AWAY WILL
TW
ANGLE RESULT IN TAUTWIRE DROPOUT AS THE
LIMIT WIRE CONTACTS THE BILGEKEEL

VERTICAL DEPRESSOR
WEIGHT

When using Taut Wire as a position reference, it is necessary to plan with care the position
for deployment of the depressor weight. The seabed can be a cluttered place and often a
field operator will stipulate that there must be nothing placed on the seabed within a
certain distance (perhaps ten or twenty metres) of pipelines, control lines or other seabed
installations. In addition to this constraint the operator would aim to place the weight in a
position so that the final working position of the vessel does not result in the wire angle
almost at its 30-degree limit. This would prevent the vessel moving in one direction. In
practice, a working limit of 20 degrees is recommended.

A further drawback of the Taut Wire system is that there is no geographical reference for
position. It is never known with certainty exactly where, in terms of geographical co-
ordinates, the depressor weight landed. Since position reference is from the weight then
exact co-ordinates for the ship are not available as they would be if using a UTM-
referenced position reference such as DGPS.

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 15.4 Effects of strong tides on Taut Wire

VESSEL
OFFSET

POSITION OF VESSEL
AND WIRE WITH NO TIDE

TIDE
EFFECTS EXAGGERATED
FOR ILLUSTRATION
THE WIRE MAY ALSO WIRE BENDING
OSCILLATE OR VIBRATE DUE TO TIDE
IN STRONG TIDES

An other drawback of the Taut Wire system is that the current / tide can bend the wire and
subsequently make an error in the positioning. The wire may also oscillate or vibrate in
storng tide.

The Taut Wire requires a continuous power supply and it uses a fairly large amount of
power when compared with other position references. As such it is not connected to the
UPS system powering the remainder of the DP but is wired directly into the main
switchboard.

Several other types of Taut Wire system are in use.

The Taut Wire Mk 8-22 from Bandak has a deep-water capability down to 500m. This unit
is provided with a computer, modelling the curve in the wire caused by tidal forces. Typical
accuracy is around 10m, deteriorating to 20 - 30m at 500m depth.

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The newest model from Bandak is the Mk 12.
This model do not have the hydraulic weight catcher but use depressor weight with an
special shape.

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For some types of vessel a platform type of Taut Wire can be used. This may be fitted in a
bridge or cellar deck of a semi-submersible vessel where access to the sea is available
directly beneath the Taut Wire location platform. While similar to the type already
described, this unit dispenses with the extending telescopic boom. Instead the weight
simply lowers directly away from its housing structure. Often, this type of Taut Wire is
housed in a deckhouse structure, so it is protected from the elements when in use and at
other times.

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For some vessels a Moonpool Taut Wire is suited. This unit is mounted inboard with
a depressor weight deployed through the bottom of the vessel through a small moonpool
or wet well. The sensor head is incorporated into an elevator unit that is lowered from the
tweendeck stowage level down to the keel level. The depressor weight and wire are then
lowered onwards from there. Hydraulic accumulator provides movement compensation
and positional data is obtained and processed in exactly the same way as in the types
previously described. The function of a Moonpool Taut Wire is to enable a DP vessel to
operate in surface ice conditions. It also has the advantage of obviating the bilge keel
angular limit. A disadvantage arises, with this type of installation, in shallow water, since
the sensor head is that much closer to the seabed than with a deck mounted unit. This
further reduces the horizontal scope of the system, already limited in shallow water.

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Another style of taut wire is the Horizontal or Surface Taut Wire system. This unit gives
position reference relative to a fixed structure. The wire is passed across to the platform
adjacent and secured. The geometry is different to the Vertical Taut Wire but principles
are the same. No boom is needed, instead the sensor is located atop a short vertical
tower. Range is limited to about 100 m wire length but the wire is wholly "in view" unlike
the Vertical Taut Wire system.

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Taut wire display page Kongsberg SDP XX

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