Belfast Harbour in Northern Ireland has implemented the Twinn Smart Mooring software system from Royal HaskoningDHV to improve vessel berthing, using real-time data and metocean forecasts to predict unsafe situations for moored ships and prevent accidents.
The application helps to determine safe mooring for critical vessels during storms by alerting port operators about mooring line forces and ship motions in advance, as well as assessing safe mooring periods for vessels arriving to Belfast.
“With Smart Mooring, we can immediately see where and when we could have a potential problem with moored ships, and take appropriate mitigating action. This software plays a key role in helping us to protect against bollard overloading and failure due to excessive forces imparted by large cruise ships and additionally providing coverage for other critical and at-risk berths,” said Kevin Allen, Harbour Master at Belfast Harbour.
“It’s fascinating, because until you engage with technology, you don’t know how better informed your decisions could be. This software provides an opportunity to mitigate risks and maintain operational efficiency with support from a digital solution, rather than investing in additional quay furniture and very much aligns with our smart port strategy.”
“For example, Smart Mooring will play a key role in helping us to protect against bollard overloading and line failures, further improving safety in the Port. With a record-breaking cruise season upcoming the insights provided by Smart Mooring will help support safe and efficient management of these large wind-sensitive vessels at berth.”
