Active Motion-Compensation Technology for Roll-On/Roll-Off Cargo Vessel Discharge to Floating Platforms

The QED team proposes to study an active motion compensation platform supported by a self-contained air cushion system. The Phase II study will evaluate the ability of the 'Ramp Motion Control Platform' (RMCP) to support and control the LMSR stern ramp through a range of elevated sea state conditions while maintaining its structural integrity within safe limits. The study will focus on the sensing and actuation systems design and the development of appropriate algorithms for determining the safe operating load on the LMSR ramp structure in the dynamic environment in relation to its rated capacity. A large-scale model of the RMCP mounted on an INLS/RRDF platform along with similarly scaled and instrumented models of the LMSR stern ramp will be tested on both a purpose built 3-DOF test apparatus and in a wave tank test facility. The capability of the RMCP to safely support the transit of vehicles from the ships ramp to the RRDF platform will be evaluated under a broad range of ship and platform motions. The data from these tests along with test data correlation analysis will provide the necessary confidence to move to a full-scale proof-of-concept demonstration under the Phase IIOption 1 program.