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

ATR has proposed an interface system concept, Compensated Ramp Interface System (CRIS), comprised of a landing platform and a transfer platform. The landing platform provides continuous support to the ramp, and the transfer platform provides a transition interface for a vehicle to cross from the landing platform onto the floating platform deck. A monitoring and situation awareness system will be used to monitor wave environment and assure operating loads are within allowable limits. The CRIS concept eliminates undesired sliding between the ramp foot and floating platform as currently happens during a Roll-on/Roll-off vehicle transfer between vessels in stream. This proposed approach takes advantage of recent developments in robotics, mechanism design, and sensing and control technology. The system will be designed with open architecture principles to maximize adaptability and flexibility of use.