Annual report 20108.31 MB - Boskalis

Operational performance• EchoscopeOn several projects Boskalis uses an Echoscope,a camera which can take acoustic underwaterimages. This new technology allows accuratepictures of the seabed to be taken, even whenturbidity is high. The camera is used for exampleon projects which require the removal or accurateplacing of large blocks of stone. Boskalis usesthe camera on the Maasvlakte 2 project whenremoving blocks from the existing sea wall; theimages are integrated into the automated dredgingprocess, enabling the lifting work to be carried outquickly and efficiently and without mistakes.• Blockbuster operating softwareWe use the Blockbuster to place the blocks inthe hard sea wall of Maasvlakte 2. Thanks toits unique construction this ‘E-crane’ is ableto lift blocks weighing 50 tonnes and movethem across a distance of up to 63 meters. Thetechnical adjustments needed to achieve this werethe brainchild of an employee in the DredgingDevelopment Department, which is responsiblefor technology development at Boskalis. Anotherin-house development by Boskalis is theadvanced operating system which enables theBlockbuster to place the blocks in the new seawall with great precision. The software factors inthe size of the rocks and ensures that the craneis able to place them quickly and efficiently bypresenting them in the correct position.In 2010 SMIT was involved in various projectsfocused on three different areas: Environment, Safetyand Equipment. In the area of Environment the E3Tug (hybrid and diesel-electric tugboat), H3T/GreenTug (hydrogen-fuelled hybrid tugboat) and the LNGTug projects involve researching solutions aimedat finding more environmentally friendly ways ofpowering tugboats.Other studies are aimed at the development anduse of simulation programs in order to enhancesafety, assess feasibility more accurately and deployequipment more efficiently. More detailed informationon these projects can be found in the CSR report.48 Annual Report 2010