Power Management, Dynamic Positioning & Controls Inspection
Project Highlights:
Sector: Energy
Project Objective: To conduct a bespoke in-depth survey of Power Management, Dynamic Positioning and Controls Systems.
Project Location: West Africa
Project Introduction
During a Full Condition Inspection of a 6th Generation Drillship, ABL Dynamic Positioning Team and Rig Inspection Team collaborated and conducted a bespoke in-depth survey of Power Management, Dynamic Positioning and Controls Systems.
Prior to mobilisation to the rig, a remote Documentation & Certification review had been conducted. This highlighted various issues that required following up on board and gave the inspectors an initial insight into the status of equipment on board.
On mobilisation to the rig, comprehensive visual inspections of all related equipment were carried out, including Power Generation & Distribution, Thruster Equipment & Auxiliaries, Dynamic Positioning Equipment & Control Systems.
Scope of Work
The scope of work included:
- Documentation & Certification review
- Visual inspections of all related equipment, including Power Generation & Distribution, Thruster Equipment & Auxiliaries, Dynamic Positioning Equipment & Control Systems.
An overview of ABL’s findings
During the course of the period onboard, the inspectors identified several Critical and Major Non-Conformances which had the potential to lead to unplanned downtime, were associated with Safety Critical Systems or had safety implications.
These included:
- DP System Motion Reference Units (MRU) were overdue for calibration as per OEM recommendations.
- Gyrocompasses were obsolete, had no historical maintenance records, and OEM performance tests had not been carried out.
- Hull valves for the Hydroacoustic Position Referencing (HPR) Systems had their remote operating gear removed, and valve position indicating proximity switches tampered with.
- Electrical and backup power systems showed faults and had not been properly maintained or tested.
- Major maintenance was overdue for main engines, turbochargers, and thrusters, risking equipment failure.
- Safety-related equipment inspections were overdue, raising potential operational safety concerns.
Results
The combined Inspection by the ABL DP team and ABL Rig Inspection team covered all aspects of Power Management, Generation & Distribution, Propulsion, Dynamic Positioning & Control Systems.
This holistic approach enabled the ABL team to identify and highlight Critical & Major Non-Conformances which required immediate action or had the potential to cause downtime during Operations
The Value We Delivered
Collaborative Multi-Disciplinary Approach: combined expertise from ABL’s DP and Rig Inspection teams ensured full coverage of power management, propulsion, and control systems beyond standard DP trial scopes.
Critical risk identification: field findings revealed safety-critical and operational non-conformances that had been missed during previous audits, enabling targeted corrective actions.
Operational reliability: detection of maintenance and equipment issues helped reduce the risk of unplanned downtime and costly interruptions during operations
Assurance and compliance: detailed documentation review and recommendations supported OEM alignment, class compliance, and improved long-term system integrity.
Related services and sectors
Marine Surveys, Inspections and Audits
Dynamic Positioning (DP) & Critical Systems
