Taut Wire Position Reference System

 Give a position reference relative to the clump weight

1
Light Weight Taut Wire principle

 Put clump on seabed

 reel switched to tension

Wire
sensor remembers wire length
angle

Measures p/s- f/a angles

Water column pushes on wire

Depressor
weight
Seabed

Depth affects range of movement

2
Taut Wire principle

3
Deepwater Tautwire

2000m limit
3000m on drawing board
4
Control panel LTW Mk8-22

MAIN
SWITCH

MOORING

F1 F4 F7 F10 7 8 9

F2 F5 F8 F11 4 5 6 DEL

F3 F6 F9 F12 0 1 2 3 ENT

MANUAL
HOIST
TON
1.0
% 100
0.8
0.6
0.4 50

0.2

MOTOR MOTOR MANUAL

CURRENT CURRENT LOWER

6
Moon Pool Taut Wire

7
Moon Pool Taut Wire principle

Sense at hull
Wire
angle

Measures same angles

Wire all below surface

Depressor
weight Seabed
8
 Horizontal T/W Mode of Operation

Wire sags with increased distance

10
Horizontal T/W

Connected

Need assistance

Have to disconnect

12
Gangway reference

Same principle as
Horizontal T/W

Lost if disconnect

13
 D.P.O. Checks
The pressures, temperatures, and oil levels should
be checked by watchman at frequent intervals.

DPO should check before coming on watch.

A book should be kept on the bridge showing the date of the last
cropping and estimated wire length remaining.

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 Advantages
High accuracy especially in moderate water depths.

Good reliability (provided regular maintenance is carried

out).
Quick and easy to set up.

No need of assistance from external sources to set up

or operate.
System is mechanical, so on board repair possible.

Above water wire can be sighted and used as a visual

check on vessel’s position. 15
 Disadvantages
The system is of short range only, especially in shallow waters.
Taut wire susceptible to strong tides, resulting in inaccuracies.
Accuracy deteriorates in deep water.
Maximum depth limitation, depending on type of system installed.
Adversely affected by surface debris or ice conditions.
Possibility of weight dragging, resulting in positional errors.
Wire may be fouled by ROV, divers or any other underwater activity.
Wire may provide obstruction to underwater operations.
Possibility of weight landing on underwater hard ware – damage.
System is not geographically referenced – relative positioning only.
If the vessel needs to move, the taut wire must be re-plumbed.
Susceptible to mechanical damage. i.e. frayed or broken wire/lost weight.
Limitations in range due to bilge keel or other vessel structure limits.
U/W wire cannot be eye-balled, thus fouling or other problems may not be apparent.
Reliant on vessel main power and cooling. (Not normally connected to UPS).
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Need to correct for pitch roll, either VRU or inclinometers, or a gimbal head