The first installation of Rolls-Royce's Unified Bridge will feature in Simon Møkster Shipping's new Platform Supply Vessel.
As offshore ships have become more technologically advanced and able to perform more highly specialised duties, their bridges, as the command centres for the ship, have become more complex.
The Rolls-Royce Unified Bridge has been designed to deal with this issue based on both our own research and feedback from customers. It simplifies the range of controls, panels and displays for the various onboard systems, provides significantly improved ergonomics and easier operation which enhances operator and crew safety and improves task efficiency. The bridge layout can also be tailored to meet the needs of a number of different vessels.
The first commercial installation of the Rolls-Royce Unified Bridge solution will be on a UT 776 WP platform supply vessel (PSV), currently being built in Spain by the yard Astilleros Gondan, for Norwegian ship-owner Simon Møkster Shipping. The vessel design with the striking wave piercing bow, main systems and equipment are all provided by Rolls-Royce.
Anders Almestad, Rolls-Royce, President – Offshore, said: "Working aboard ships in the offshore sector can be hugely demanding on crews, where concentration, visibility and rapid response are essential for safe operations. The Unified Bridge was developed after an in-depth study of bridge system requirements for the navigation and operation of vessels focused on ergonomic design, safety, performance and simplicity."
On completion in 2014 the vessel will be chartered by Statoil for operations in the North Sea and the High North.