GE Power launches new DPS

GE has further developed the system with a new human machine interface (HMI). It also features an energy efficient nautical system to reduce operational costs and emissions. This supports GE’s ‘ecomagination’ strategy to deliver cleaner and more efficient sources of energy.

Studies reveal that fuel saving may be as much as 10% or more with an associated NOX reduction of as much as 20%, depending on environmental factors and exact operational profile.

Paul English, marine leader of GE Power Conversion, said: “We are giving ship control back to the mariners. As the sophistication and complexity of DPS has evolved, it has led to the risk that DP operators may have become pre occupied with managing the computer rather than on managing the primary task of controlling the ship, its position, heading and course.”

He added: “We are now taking DP control out of the engineering world and putting it back into the marine world. We are turning it back into a nautical instrument. In the future, the DP operator will be able to focus on his real job, controlling the ship, and not be distracted by the task of manipulating and controlling a complex computer system.”

The company launched the latest version at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2013, which took place in Houston, Texas, this week.