Shipboard crane digital twin: An empirical study on R/V Gunnerus

The maritime industry is constantly facing new challenges and technological advancements, making the adaptation of innovative solutions like digital twins a bridge enhancing safety and efficiency between theoretical models and real-world maritime applications. Digital twin simulators for complex dynamic operation systems such as shipboard cranes, allow the operators to practice demanding operations in a risk-free immersive environment with various scenarios. This paper presents the process of developing a digital twin-based simulation tool designed for shipboard crane operations. It is based on co-simulation using the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard. This allows for the integration of the operation scenarios with different physical domain models, including such as the ship, environmental forces, hydraulic power systems, and controllers. In addition, the digital twin has opened up new opportunities for the optimization of maritime systems. It can be used to identify the optimal operating conditions, predict potential risks, and provide onboard support to the operator. A demo crane digital twin is implemented for the Palfinger crane on the Gunnerus research vessel with system validation via a series of marine operations being real-time monitored by the Remote Control Center (RCC).