Shameful use of DP at the dock.....say it aint so

[rigdvr]

@"Pir8dg"

I would like to start out by saying this is my first post on gCaptain. The thread started here by Swampnet gave me cause to register and reply to this ridiculous claim. I am currently running as mate onboard the M/V Orleans and have been working onboard the vessel for the past 6 years. I don’t know whether to take your comment as offensive or a compliment. I can say without hesitation that this vessel has never been docked in C-Port 1, or any other dock for that matter, on DP. We pride ourselves in the handling of the vessel in and around docks and would never leave it to a computer program that inevitable will fail at some point. GPS signals in and around Port Fourchon are far from solid and it would be fool hearted to trust it. I can’t speak for the St. Louis, but you can take the Orleans off this list. For the record, I am a hawespiper.

I watched several Gulfmark boats in C Port this hitch. All were docked by captains, none using DP. Docked very smoothly I might add.

I would have to say honestly that I can’t think of a worse scenario for DP than docking at C Port for several reasons…

1. Topping around to put the current on your beam
2. High noise in Fourchon Effecting GPS integrity
3. Backing into a covered slip and the possible loss of DGPS from shadow
4. Z drives use opposing forces to maintain position, the wheel wash would be extreme. Even worse once you get the stern into the slip
5. Unless you sit in the bayou blocking traffic, you haven’t the time for the system to build an adequate model
6. Inability of the system to cope with extremely fast changes in conditions such as bow in current, stern in slip

These are just some of the many issues with using DP in this manner.

Sorry for the on topic post…