Sandpiper is a flat-bottomed shallow-water barge with a range of offshore construction capabilities added after she was acquired by Allseas in 2022. Capable of laying pipe up to 150 cm in diameter at depths of up to 150 m, the vessel completed her first commercial mission in 2024. 

What’s unique about Sandpiper is that she does not use motorized propulsion. Instead, the barge is pulled by a system of anchors. This legacy technology has recently received a modern update by Allseas. To properly prepare operators for the refurbished and enhanced vessel, Allseas and Tree C Technology collaborated on a new training simulator.

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“The Tree C simulator framework allows us to train two or more operators at the same time. There are other Crew Resource Management (CRM) and emergency training simulators out there – but they are not this advanced. In fact, this simulator is quite unique in covering the complexities of pipelay using an anchored barge.”

– Project Manager, Allseas

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Innovating an anchored barge for pipelay

Used in shallow waters, it’s a complex operation to move an anchored barge. On similar vessels, each anchor winch is operated individually. Operators use levers and motors to pay in and pay out on the anchor wires that move the barge (and lay pipe). Multiple anchors need precise repositioning, taking into account other anchors, anchor lines, ‘keep-out zones’, and existing subsea structures. On top of that, tug boats are sometimes used to reposition bow and stern anchors.

Sandpiper takes the process a step forward. It’s still possible to use manual operators on each winch, but fitted with an anchor control system, each ‘pull’ can be made automatically. Taking into account the changing angles, a computer calculates the pay-out and pay in for each winch. Keeping that under control means the vessel can accelerate or rotate as needed. 

With innovative technology and a new way of working, effective training for the crew was of high importance. Allseas’s in-house development team was commissioned to create operational control software – with hardware-in-the-loop – alongside the refurbishment of Sandpiper. This raised a key question: could operational software be reused in a training simulator? 

Having invested in Tree C’s simulator framework, Allseas sought a deeper collaboration to bring their software into the Tree C environment. This would enable them to benefit from features like real-world physics, configurable emergency scenarios, and a library of reusable assets.

Connecting systems from Allseas and Tree C 

Tree C and Allseas worked together to make the two systems talk to each other. It was important for trainers to have the ability to simulate equipment failures using the regular Tree C console. 

Take the example of a malfunctioning winch motor. The trainer can simulate an error from the Tree C console, which sends a message to the Allseas system so it can display the correct warning. It also simulates the failed winch and its impact, accounting for the effects on the vessel using real-world physics. 

So far, so good. Both technologies are talking to each other and behaving as expected. During the Sandpiper’s test missions, the training team collected data to share with Tree C. This informed the simulator model – including what the operator sees on the screen. 

Recently, Allseas has trained a crew of new operators to work on the Sandpiper for the first time. It’s a simulator-first approach to training, before the operators begin work on the real systems onboard the vessel. At that point, Allseas will collect feedback on their experience. 

The advantages of a Tree C training simulator

There are only so many ways to train new people to operate a unique vessel like Sandpiper. One way is to do a test mission. This can be expensive and there’s a risk of damage to equipment. 

Another option is to train operators on a specific piece of simulator equipment – in isolation. This works up to a point – but what if you need to rehearse teamwork (pipe lay requires two or more operators to work together) or emergency scenarios as a crew? 

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“We have a lot in common with the aviation industry; you can’t start crashing planes in order to train your pilots. The simulator is the only way.”

– Project Manager, Allseas

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By combining Tree C technology with their own, Allseas has been able to create a powerful and bespoke training solution for a unique and complex vessel. Not only that, they can safely rehearse emergency scenarios – especially communication – with a few clicks of the trainer’s console. Trainers can also tailor scenarios to specific situations and missions. 

The partnership between Allseas and Tree C continues to develop and expand. It began with Solitaire (2022), followed by Audacia (2023), and now Sandpiper (2024). Right now, Allseas is preparing to simulate more vessels and operational scenarios based on its business needs. Flexibility is key. Simulator development needs to be synced to the future needs of the business.

To that end, the training team at Allseas are looking at upcoming projects, and where the next training sim could add the most value. They’re also looking back at the wider history of offshore and subsea operations to identify key opportunities for risk mitigation through simulator training. That’s the goal: to reduce the probability of accidents and their effects.

To discover more about the exciting partnership between Allseas and Tree C Technology, read our blog post: How Tree C Is Innovating Training Simulators With Allseas.