ORPHEUS steers ships away from danger

QinetiQ scientists have developed a unique onboard decision aid computer software tool to help Royal Navy bridge officers operate their ships safely in extreme weather conditions. ORPHEUS (Onboard Risk Performance Hazard Evaluation System) is a dedicated and flexible operator guidance system providing clear and concise information on how a ship will perform in a variety of bad weather scenarios.

Over the last three years QinetiQ's Maritime Centre at Haslar near Portsmouth has worked with the MoD Sea Technology Group (STG) to develop ORPHEUS and they have put together material, including specific ship simulations, to use as a base for information. ORPHEUS can display measured motions, predictions of motions at alternative speeds and heading combinations alongside operating limits. The MS Windows based system combines real-time data with a database of previously generated data which, when selected, is plotted to a computer screen.

Traditionally, Royal Navy guidance on how to operate ships in severe weather has been given in the form of general seamanship lectures during navigational training and from actual experience of what to avoid. Computer guidance tools are not routinely used on RN ships for this purpose and the little information that is available tends to be paper-based graphs that have limited usefulness in bad weather situations.

Earlier this year a prototype demonstrator of ORPHEUS was evaluated in rough weather during RN exercises off the West Coast of Scotland. Simple to interpret polar contour plots aided decision making by showing how ship speed and course changes might affect the ability to perform tasks in a variety of speeds and headings. Feedback on the demonstrator was very positive and discussions are now underway with the UK MOD and other Navies regarding future development of the tool.