SHIPBOARD MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM
Maja Kr um, Mr. Sc., EI. Eng.
Prof. Zivotije Lazarevic,Ph. D., EI. Eng.
Ivica Kuzmanié, Mr. Sc.,El. Eng
Maritime Faculty, University of Split,
Zrinskofrankopanska 38, HR-2100 Split, Croatia,
e-mail: mkrcum a pfst.hr.
Abstract: An ever increasing degree of automation aboard a ship, as well as complex
requirements for functionality and competitiveness in the market, call for a development of
programmable systems. These systems must be easily adaptable, possessing an installation as
short as possible and a good Ilexibility with regard to the number of controllable parameters,
as well as a possibility of peripheral units being connected to the system. All these
components have to be united into an integral shipboard monitoring and control system which
makes an intelligent shipboard control system.
Keywords: management system, monitored control system , intelligent control, ship control,
electrical protection.
1. INTRODUCTION In order to make the functioning of the entire
shipboard system as eff cient as possible, it can be
Automation of shipboard processes is an important conveniently divided into smaller sub - systems,
issue in the improvement of the effciency aboard a
ship. It includes safety and protection of the vessel, as
well as training and education of the personnel and 2. MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION
their adjustrnent to the new conditions. The staff SYSTEM
manning a particular unit or system is a significant
factor. By introducing monitoring and control devices A centralisation of information and remote control has
the bridge is relived and the number of staff responsible been carried out within shipboard systems. The
for the safe navigation reduced. Some navigation location of the central control unit depends on the
components, such as the steering course, approximate personnel organization, type and basis of the system
determination of the ship's position, radar, surveillance, ( propulsion etc.). By employing electronic element and
collision risk warning (within certain limits), date information system a fully - automated remote control
warning and recording of crucial navigation dates, of the systems, specially designed for marine
weather forecast, depth measuring, fire detection and applications, and guaranteeing reliability and simplicitv
fire fighting are easily adaptable to automation and of operation, has been accomplished.
semi - automation, whereas other components, as for
example manoeuvering in narrow channels, berthing 2.1. Management System
and unberthing, planing of the optimum course and
speed are not. Control engine room are, however, Particular sub - systems, as well as the ship as whole,
perfectly adaptable and enable the officer in charge are of a dynamic nature, which is why they are analysed
to operate the entire unit.
by applying the motion law. By means of appropriate as soon as the operator has received the information. It
mathematical models management system actions can is also a means of interrupting the sound alatrn.
be described and responses, stabilty etc. can be Indication of the disorder automatically stops when
predicted. It is therefore necessary to determine the tthe situation is back to normal, or it can last until the
environment system, the operated machine features and disorder is recognised and rectified by the operator.
the desďred response. The extent to which this method is to be employed
The enviroment system includes the following depends on the operator's estimation, as well as the
requirements to be met: number of personnel manning the control station.
- the operator's ability to perform certain actions,
maintenance and repairs; When giving an alatm it is important for the staff to be
- personnel avaitability; focused on the trouble area instead of "trouble -
- environment conditions ( temperature, humidity, shooting" operations. The actions rectifying the disorder
cleanliness, corrosion ...); must be the result of the instrument reading analysis and
- possibility of accommodating management system the operator's visual control. In case of unmanned
components. control stations, recording of the disorder or frequent
Management system characteristics include: sequencing can be of significant assistance as a rule,
- internal connection of various events which are to information systems have to be fitted with auto - control,
be managed regarding both dependent and independent which means that the disorder with the system must give
operation; the need for logical sequencing as regards the off a clear and easily discernible result.
need for computed figures;
- control variable characteristics depending on the Certain conditions can be recorded and displayed either
number of inputs and their characteristics, response digitally or analogously. If several input figures are
systems and permissible abetration &om ideal recorded, it is done by means of the data logger. A
conditions; digital display records within an automatic time-cycle or
- error effect. at a special order. The infotznation recorded is an
The desired response comprises: ephemeral figure within a certain interval and a sequence
- the staff participation concerning supervision and of actions leads to an estimation based on a series of
carrying out commands either manually or readings. Analogous instruments ensure a continuous
automatically; graphic display, which makes any change in the
- reliability of management including equipment testing, controlled figure easy to detect. Their basic
certain amount of supplies and the error effect; disadvantage is an excessive consumption of paper, and
- the number of outputs and their characteristics. the recorded piece of information can therefore prove to
be of limited value.
22. Information systems Infotmation and remote control centralisation takes
place in a single spot - the control station. If a such a
Automation does not only consist of a management station should happen to be left unattended, except
system: it also incorporates an information system during routine check - ups or at times of disorder, it is
serving simultaneously for supervision and maintenance recommended to locate it where readings can be easily
of the unit. Supervision itself may serve several done, e.g. immediately adjacent to the control engine -
purposes: room. This permits direct surveillance, which is of
- determining control variable figures for remote utmost importance, particularly if there is an imminent
controlled manual management; danger of fire and similar untoward occutrences.
- determinďng control variables for automatic operation;
- disorder warning; The control station design should be based on the so-
- warning of failure in the operator's performance; called "human-engineering" principle since it offers and
- providing information for "trouble - shooting"; determines the most effective criteria for the
- ensuring recording of operations performed. establishment of human environment. The conditions are
meant to maintain attention and concentration by
Instruments used for remote control of certain operations removing excessive vibrations, providing a good
must permit permanent reading in order for the response lighting, noise level, good ventilation etc. Should these
to be immediately recognised. Instruments tending to primary requirements fail to be met, it could lead to
have longer recording periods are not suitable for exhaustion, which in turn impairs the human faculties
manual control. In case of automatic control there is no and capacities, such as decision - making, which is
need for a permanent display, but when it comes to a basic human function enabling the man to establish
manual control mode as a resetve solution, it has proved control over the machine.
to be indispensable. Visual and sod alarms can be used
to draw attention to a certain disorder or operator's The man normally makes use of his senses ( sight,
failure, in which case it is necessary to have an smell, hearing) in estimating the operation of machines.
instrument indicating control variable figures. Visual When these senses are not used, they obviously need a
signal is usually a blinking light switching to permanent replacement which is made apparent when the control
station is located far from the engines. In that case it is "intelligent system", it also must have an output order
necessary to have devices sensitive to a rise in for limiting and avoiding the damage. Based on the
temperature, excessive vibrations and the like to assist parameter monitoring it is important to observe and
the operator injudging the operating conditions. notice the difference between normal and abnormal, as
for example if the voltage should drop by 50% in lops,
an intelligent system must estimate the damage that is
bound to occur due to such a drop in voltage. The
logical phase, having received the information from the
monitoring phase, must be able to discern between
normal and abnormal, as well as to make a decision
o
w
" ..: .t, .. . ·: · i . n concerning the appropriate action in case of a disorder
(Scott,1983).
3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM AND THE
MONITORING AND CONTROL ABOARD SHIP
The development of the electronic and information
components has made monitoring and control systems
for marine applications much more demanding. These
systems are nowadays manufactured in the modular
design (Kerle,1995), as is the case with MTU company
Fig.l. Control room console section and their latest MCS-5 system (Modular Control
System). It provides good flexibility of the system (Fig.
When displaying information it is essential for the sub - 2.). Some time ago a much larger and more robust
systems to be sectioned and grouped. Information is equipment was used, but the advance of smaller and
shown in a logical display usually mounted onto a intelligent Peripheral Interface Module (PIM) has not
vertical, horizontal or sloping surface as can be seen in only reduced the space, but made an enormous
Fig. I . (Kerle,1995). A vertical design enables the contribution towards the automation of the process. It
situation to be estimated from a more remote place. represents local input and output and is a part of the
Whatever the choice, the situation has to be displayed modular system with an unlimited configuration.
simp(y and logically. The time needed to take in a
function has to be minimized, which is of particular Peripheral Interface Module acts as a converter for the
consequence in navigation due to the staff reduction. sensors. Their assigned field bus enables them to
communicate with higher-level processes. The field bus
is a super-fast powerful Controller Area Network
2.3. Electrical Protection System (CAN) bus. The advantage of these decentralised
peripheral module connected with local communication
If the electrical protection system is to be taken as one of lines enables the connection to preserve its cables and
the sub - systems (Krdum,1995), it should be noted that, gives safety to the whole distribution configuration.
due to a development of electronic and information
components certain data (e.g. the condition of a switch) The work of Peripheral Interface Module is controlled
can be collected and transmitted analogously or digitally by Programmable Process Station which is capable of
via optic fibers to the central control station used for the processing a large amount of data. Each PPS can control
automatic control of the power supply system. For approximately 25 PIMs simultaneously , at the same
example, by monitoring the condition of the switch all time establishing, communication with the system's
the relevant data, i.e. information, collected during the control and operational levels. These connections (PPS-
phase of surveillance, may give indication of preventive PPS and PPS - control desk) are made possible by a bus
maintenance before the actual damage has occurred. By link. For user's operation either CAN bus or Ethernet
diagnosing and data collecting the routine maintenance bus can be chosen. Should one communication line fail,
schedule can be eliminated altogether and replaced by another is automatically connected by the system.
maintenance as required. It is also possible to
automatically mount the switches over-current and low- These modular technologies are the simplest means of
voltage mode, depending on the operating conditions. As meeting the shipbuilder's requirements, because the data
has bee said before, the protection devices have a processing equipment takes up a relatively small space,
monitoring phase, as well as a logical and a remote particularly regarding the possible number of connected
control phase and the parameters usually monitored, i.e. process modules. The most significiant development in
input factors, are accuracy of voltages and currents the modular system is the optimisation of safety and
andtheir frequency (Krdum and Kuzmanic, 1996). This reliability which are ensured by distribution
system requires a knowledge of how long it can configuration and eployment of local networks.
endure a disorder before damage sets in. Being an Furthermore, the advantage of this system lies in the fact
Process ICU MCtJ PPS CPS PIM
CAN (ndícation Management Programmable Communication Perďpheral
ar Control Computer Process Process Interface
ECherneC Unit iJniC Sta3ion Stat:ion Mtodule
Fig2. Schematic Representation of the Monitoring and Control System
that it can be programmed and re-programmed, the displayed on the screen. The operator is warned by a
network management system has been optimised and blinking signal and an alarm hum, which is a signal for
cabling requirements have been minimised. It shuld be him to take action. By means of the cursor the operator
noted that the system is distinguisehed by individualised can directly act upon the work of the entire shipboard
solution and ease of maintenance. system. The system is equipped with an alarm log, trend
logging/display functions, journal files, on-line Help
The control centre constitutes the ship's control level. It functions and troubleshooting facilities. Should a large
is the place to which PPSs send their signals or from number of operating units be required, each operator has
which they receive them. The data are processed by access to all the information. Owing to the open system
means of Management Computer Units (MCU). The software and hardware structure, this system can be
compuers directly control the user's choice man- easily adapted to meet all additional requirements.
machine. Visualisation of the process is carried out by
color monitors (Indication Control Units). The system Naturally, such a system has to meet the appropriate
can be individually planned and designed by the user demands set by shipping societies, which is why all the
and applied to any kind of vessel. type research has to be done in compliance with them.
This system shuld make the operation as easy and