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Eksploatacja i testy
Jan PAWELSKI

MICROWAVE REFERENCE SYSTEMS

Paper discussed unique microwave systems used in offshore industry for position referencing. First purpose built system
entered market in 1972 and was partly associated with Dutch Delta Works. This system after several modifications is still in
use as Artemis [Link], two other, more advanced microwave reference systems are in use. Their introduction eliminat-
ed some disadvantages of earlier equipment. Today, reliable microwave reference systems are extensively used in offshore
industry for high risk operations in difficult meteorological conditions.

Demand for such system was also echoed by project Dutch

INTRODUCTION Delta Works which started in 1954 and lasted 43 years until 1997
[8]. The first purpose built microwave position reference system had
Position reference systems have begun their development in been built in Netherland. Technological advance in microwave
early 1960’s to answer demand from fast growing offshore industry. electronic resulted in even more sophisticated systems which play
Exploration of subsea oil and gas reservoirs required reliable posi- important role in safety of offshore operations. It is necessary to
tion reference systems capable of work without any land based discuss their principles of work and as well problems associated
infrastructure. Satellite navigational systems were not available at with their use.
that time. Additionally, multiple positioning systems were needed for
position reliability. First dynamically positioned drillship which used
1. POSITION REFERENCE SYSTEM ARTEMIS
microwave position reference systems was CUSS 1, pictured below:
Challenge of building of such equipment had been taken up by
Dutch manufacturer CHRISTIAAN HUYGENSLABORATORIUM
[Link] system called Artemis was introduced into market in 1972.
System was based on microwave technology commonly used for
marine radars of this time. Carrier frequency was chosen as 9.2-9.3
GHz, just below frequency band of navigational radar 9.3-9.5 GHz.
To avoid interferences from navigational radars, Artemis works with
vertical polarization. Stations are transmitting continuous wave with
code pulse modulation for identification and voice link in earlier
version of equipment. Pulse modulation allows for range measure-
ment using pulse time delay. Complete set of Artemis reference
system consists of two identical stations: Fixed and Mobile, as
shown below:

Fig. 1. Drillship CUSS 1. Source [9]

Vessel successfully conducted several deep water drillings in

spite of modest position referencing equipment. As microwave
position reference system was used standard marine radar, measur-
ing distance to four anchored buoys. Readings from radar display
allowed operator to manually adjust four thrusters to maintain posi-
tion. Despite of obvious success of such basic equipment, better
microwave system was badly needed by offshore industry. Fig. 2. Artemis station. Source [10]

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Fixed station is positioned on board offshore installation, while This solution allowed for high accuracy of bearing measurement, far
Mobile station is installed on board of offshore vessel. Both stations greater than accuracy of marine radars with single slotted array
are maintaining microwave radio link at power level approximately antenna. Artemis is long range system, capable to work at distance
100 mW. Fixed station requires calibration by optical aiming of 30 kilometers in some versions but dynamic positioning is generally
scanner to object with known true bearing and entering this value limited to 10 kilometers. Accuracy of range measurements is greater
into system. Each pair of stations works on one of the four frequen- for short distances due to averaging of more measurements within
cies within allocated band and station identification is provided by the same time. Mobile station is equipped with operator interface
two digit code. Frequency of Fixed and mobile stations are always based on PC. Operator can adjust setting and monitor functioning of
apart by 30 MHz to avoid interferences. After activation of auto the system. Interface is subjected to continuous changes but exam-
search mode scanners of both stations are locked on each other ple below fairly reflects system philosophy:
and tracking to maintain ‘lock’. Manual searching is also provided.
Antennae begins search with movement in small sectors, gradually
increasing them even to 360. Configuration of Artemis system in
tracking mode is shown below:

Fig. 5. Artemis operator interface [2]

Overall position accuracy of Artemis is considered as 1 meter

at probability level 68%.and is sufficient for most offshore opera-
tions. System became standard outfit for numerous offshore termi-
Fig. 3. Artemis position reference configuration. Source [1]
nals, owing to ability to work as microwave omni-directional beacon
with Mobile station installed on board of shuttle tanker as shown
Despite of relatively small physical dimensions of scanner sys-
below:
tem is capable of determining of bearing with very high accuracy
0.033. System uses maximum signal method for auto search pur-
poses and minimum signal for precise angle measurement. Artemis
scanner consists of two separate slotted array waveguides joined
together. Left and right halves of antenna are connected to four
ports: the Sum and Difference ports. The Sum ports are used for
transmitting and receiving. The Difference ports are used for receiv-
ing only. Resulting Sum and Difference antenna pattern are graph-
ically explained below:

Fig. 6. Artemis configuration for offshore loading terminal. Source

[3]

Artemis designed as long reference system suffers problems

with dip zones when microwaves reflected from water surface are
interfering with direct wave. This phenomenon occurs at certain
distance from scanner and affect mostly long range operations.
Second group of problems is associated with neighborhood of very
Fig. 4. Artemis antenna Sum and Difference patterns. Source [3] strong transmissions from ship’s navigational radars, interfering with
Artemis signals. System is experiencing dropouts when vessel
Left part of Differential pattern has phase shift - 90 with re- moves outside limits of Fixed station auto search or line of sight is
spect to phase of Sum pattern. Right lobe of Differential pattern is being obstructed. Despite of these problems and obsolete principle
shifted +90. For signal received from direction perpendicular to of work system is being continuously upgraded in use in offshore
scanner output from Sum ports is at its maximum and from Differen- industry. There is no other long range position reference system
tial ports at the minimum. beside satellite based with ability to work in adverse meteorological
Any deviation from this direction slowly reduces signal from conditions and well suited for offshore terminals. Early version of
Sum ports and sharply increases signal level from Differential ports. Artemis used serial transmission standards RS 232C and RS 423A

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for communication with dynamic positioning controller. Obsolete
analog equipment could be hooked up to the system using 4-20 mA
current loop. Last versions of position reference systems are using
lightweight Ethernet communication to comply with recent trend
among navigational and dynamic positioning equipment.

2. POSTION REFERENCE SYSTEM RADIUS

Development in microwave and solid state resulted in introduc-
tion into offshore industry short range position reference system
RADius. Built by Konsberg Seatex AS at the beginning of 21st cen-
tury, new system has no moving parts at all and offers several
improvements in regard to previous one. System consists of vessel
mounted interrogator, workstation and transponders as targets.
RADius components can be viewed below: Fig. 8. RADius bearing measurement principle. Source [7]

Another improvement of reference system is capability to work

with multiple transponders/targets (up to 5) for increased reliability
due to elimination of position dropouts. RADius has been designed
as complimentary to differential GPS (DGPS). Vessel approaching
offshore installation has part of sky obscured and GPS poor config-
uration can render position less accurate. At distance 200 m from
targets RADius accuracy is equal to that of DGPS. Sorter distances
make accuracy even greater. The system is able to identify tran-
sponders and measure range seamless out to 1000 meter. Closer
than 500 meters of distance from the targets, the angle measure-
ments become available. High accuracy and availability are assured
closer than 200 meters from the transponders. Each interrogator
Fig. 7. RADius components. Source [4] and transponders have opening angle 90 in horizontal and vertical
planes to avoid signal loss when vessel works at rough sea. Work-
System works in frequency band 5.51-5.61 GHz to alleviated ing angle can be extended to almost 180 by adding second inter-
problems with interferences from marine radars. Interrogator works rogator. Typical accuracy for angle measurement is 0.25 (10) and
on continuous wave with frequency modulation. Transponder re- 0.25 m (1). System communicates with associated equipment by
flects back received signal with added identification number. Signal five RS232C/RS422 interfaces and Ethernet port. System has
received by interrogator has frequency shift proportional to distance proved its usability in harsh environment of the North Sea.
between interrogator and transponder and allows for precise range
determination as can be seen on graphic below: 3. POSITION REFERENCE SYSTEM RADASCAN
Parallel to development of RADius system, UK based manu-
facturer Guidance marine Ltd. came with another concept of micro-
wave reference system called RadaScan. This system features
rotating scanner for 360 operation but safely hidden inside radome.
Due to advance filtering and signal processing, system can work at
frequency band 9.25 GHz without risk of interferences from naviga-
tional radars. System designed as long range, can track up to five
targets at distance from 1000-10 m. Targets are made as very
specific transponders. They are retro-reflecting reflectors and they
don’t amplify any signal. Received signal is reflected back and the
same time transponder flips polarisation of reflection 90º while
imparting target identification code. This coding method eliminates
most of the background clutter typical for marine radar. Battery
power is needed only for electronics imparting target code which
allows battery replacement once in two years only. This specific
mode of operation is often termed as passive transponders. In
manufacturers terminology they are called responders to emphasize
Fig. 9. RADius range measurement principle. Source [7] their unique mode of operations.
Bearing is determined by measurement carrier wave phase All electronic needed for signal processing is accommodated
shift between different elements of antenna as explained below: inside radome as pictured below:

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additional responders. Sensor is provided with heating system for
operation in extremely low temperatures. Ethernet port and Internet
protocols are used for communication with dynamic positioning
system. Up to date this system is being considered as most ad-
vanced in its class.

CONCLUSION
Offshore industry is using extensively precise positioning sys-
tems for high risk operations. Safety of personnel and environment
depends on reliability of such systems. Microwave systems are
playing special role as they are capable to work in most adverse
Fig. 10. RadaScan above deck equipment. Source [6]
conditions. In many instances they are irreplaceable as complemen-
tary to differential GPS as primary position reference system. Years
Sensor is designed as monopulse radar with frequency
of continuous development resulted in implementation of unique
modulated continuous wave (FMCW). Frequency modulation allows
microwave technologies and sophisticated signal processing.
very precise range measurement and low power transmission.
Monopulse radar requires twin transmitting and receiving circuits for
angle measurement. Simplified schematic is given below: BIBLIOGRAFIA
1. Guidance Marine Ltd., Artemis Mk5 Brochure, Leicester, UK,
2015
2. Konsberg Martime AS, Artemis Mk5 Controller, Horten, Norway,
2005
3. Konsberg Maritime AS, DP operator training manual. Horten,
Norway, 2010
4. Konsberg Seatex AS, RADius Short-Range Relative Position-
ing, Trondheim, Norway, 2008
5. Marine Technologies LLC, Bridge Mate RadaScan Brochure,
Mandeville L.A., USA, 2015
6. Pearce D., RadaScan: A Local Reference, High Resolution
Radar, Dynamic Positioning Sensor, Proceedings of the Dynam-
ic Positioning/Marine Technology, Houston, USA,2005
7. Schwenke T., RADius, a New Contribution to Demanding Close-
up DP Operations, Proceedings of the Dynamic Position-
Fig. 11. Radar schematic. Source [6]
ing/Marine Technology, Houston, USA,2004
8. [Link] 22.03.2017
Below deck is installed operator’s interface which is very sim-
9. [Link] accessed 22.03.2017
ple and intuitive. Radom and interface are shown below:
10. [Link]
position-reference-sensor, accessed 22.03.2017

Mikrofalowe systemy referencyjne

Artykuł analizuje unikalne systemy mikrofalowe, używa-
ne w przemyśle offshorowym w charakterze systemów odnie-
sienia pozycji. Pierwszy, zbudowany specjalnie w tym celu
system, pojawił się na rynku w 1972 roku i był częściowo
związany z Planem Delta. System ten, po wielu modyfika-
cjach, wciąż pozostaje w użytku jako Artemis [Link],
dwa inne, bardziej zaawansowane technicznie systemy są w
eksploatacji. Wprowadzenie ich pozwoliło na eliminację
pewnych niedostatków poprzedniego urządzenia. Obecnie,
niezawodne mikrofalowe systemy odniesienia pozycji są po-
wszechnie używane przez przemysł offshorowy w operacjach
Fig. 12. Radom and operator interface. Source [5]
obarczonych wysokim ryzykiem i w trudnych warunkach
meteorologicznych.
It displays basic information like signal strength, target ID,
range and bearing. Typical system accuracy is stated as 0.05% of
Author:
range and 0.06 at 500 m. during field test at medium range position
Jan Pawelski, Phd, Master Mariner, OIM – Gdynia Maritime
scattertest results were usually within 15 cm in both axes. Important
University, Faculty of Navigation.
feature of the system is capability to serve multiple sensors with the
same set of responders without interferences. It allows several
vessels to operate at offshore installation without need to install

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