Full Mission Bridge Simulations of Bulk Carrier Approach for Unsheltered Offshore Transshipment of Polymetallic Nodules

Abstract The abyssal plain of specific deep ocean environments hold prolific amounts of polymetallic nodules that contain critical minerals needed by the growing and developing worldwide population. These nodules, rich in manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt, contain the raw materials needed for production of energy storage and distribution equipment. However, the polymetallic resource sits far offshore in deep open ocean waters and presents a logistical challenge to the end user. Various industry plans exist to transship the nodules to shore. A promising strategy recovers the deep ocean resource by a Surface Production Vessel (SOV) and transships the nodules to the onshore processing facility via regular offshore offloading to bulk carriers. The operation moors a bulk carrier alongside the SPV and offloads nodules while on the high seas. Although bulk carriers have conducted lightering operations in near shore environments for many years, review of current industry practice shows limited regular dry bulk cargo transshipment year-round in offshore conditions. Evaluation of the proposed nodule transshipment strategy involves both technical and operational elements. Full mission bridge vessel simulations play an important role in training personnel in the offshore oil and gas and maritime industries. These simulators offer a realistic environment to conduct routine and emergency response operations by recreating irregular seas, benign or severe weather, maritime and terrestrial obstructions, and day/night conditions. Some units, such as the one used in this study, provide simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) capabilities for multiple vessels and pilots in the same simulation environment. Simulators with SIMOPS capable technology possess the features and capabilities to evaluate novel equipment and/or operations involving multiple vessels in a realistic environment with minimal risk. Each simulator includes a trainer station that provides tools to measure and record physical variables from the virtual environment and vessel models. This work uses a SIMOPS full mission bridge simulator to evaluate the novel operation of transshipping polymetallic nodules offshore. The evaluation meets the objective of the study to understand the technical limits of the different bulk carrier station keeping options to conduct offloading operations. The results from the study feed a separate risk assessment which informs on decisions about the minimum viable equipment configuration for the operation.