SMIDS makes Doppler Speed Log Redundant

SMIDS is a new, digital docking system. Its accuracy and precision, ease of installation and its application make it a prime example of electronics innovation becoming available for commercial shipping.

SMIDS requires no dry-docking to install or replace, making it far more cost effective alternative to its Doppler predecessor.

Dopplers are the system used to measure a ship's speed and play an important role in docking manoeuvers. At least they used to be, as so many ships are no replacing them with SMIDS as they offer so many advantages.

Dopplers disadvantages are that they are located on the hull at the bow of the ship and underwater. Installation of Dopplers requires hull penetration and the sensors and sonar are vulnerable to marine growths, which have a corrosive effect.

Regular maintenance and all too often sensor replacement make Dopplers an expensive item, especially as dry-docking may be required.

Dopplers do not offer the accuracy and reliability of SMIDS.

Greater accuracy and easier installation as well as requiring virtually no maintenance have made SMIDS the chosen alternative with many ship companies, such as Shell, Vela. Exxon, Petrobas, BW Maritime, HAM Dredging, Dredging Corp of India and Songa for both retrofit and new builds.
SMIDS - How do they work?

Satellite systems are used for precision docking and close quarter manouevers; GLONASS/GPS receivers are used to independently measure all bow and stern movements in relationship to the Earth and providing a mean velocity of better than +/- 0.02 Knots.

A display unit, on the ship's bridge and wing, shows the heading, course, transverse speed and longitudinal speeds.

Two GPS satellite receivers are positioned on the bow and stern of the vessel. Satellite information received is integrated with the ship's gyroscopic heading data and the rate of change, as the ship moves is calculated, in relationship to the Earth, with the data decoded into understandable values port to starboard and forward to aft. The option is also available to fed data to such equipment as ECDIS, Radar and S-VDR.

SMIDS is an IMO Performance Standard required by all devices and is recognised as a legal replacement of Doppler Speed Log.

Advantages of SMIDS

• Provide continuos, precise information during docking
• Unaffected by marine conditions - cavitation, seawater anomolies, stratification or thremoclines
• Safer and enhanced docking for all types of vessels,
• Increased safety for such ships as gas and shuttle tankers
• Dry docking unnecessary for install or maintenance
• Hull penetrations unecessary
• No calibration, servicing or maintenance necessary
• Can be installed while the ship is at sea
• Sea trials not required
• Hull penetration unnecessary
• No need for expensive gate valves
• Low cost investment and minimal maintenance
• Unaffected by thrusters, ships' propellers or dredgers

Click to enlarge image...

SMIDS - Lightering Demo - Click to see movie...

SMIDS - Docking Demo - Click to see movie...

SMIDS - RAS-ing (Replenshment at Sea) Demo - Click to see movie...

AMI KW1918 SMIDS Data Sheet Download...