Ropeless, Fender less StS operations up to 100,000 DWT
Ship-to-ship operations offshore are among the most demanding and safety-critical maritime activities. Relative vessel motion, environmental exposure and hazardous operating conditions make conventional mooring with lines and fenders complex, risky and highly crew-dependent
The STS system developed by AMS is a ropeless and fender less ship-to-ship mooring solution designed for offshore and open-water vessel-to-vessel operations for vessels up to 100,000 DWT with wave heights up to 6 meters. The system enables controlled vessel connection while accommodating offshore motion through passive 6DOF compensation, rather than resisting it.
How our StS mooring system works
During approach, STS uses our proprietary AI-based 3D targeting positioning to accurately seek out and align with the target vessel. Once alignment is achieved, the mooring arms attaches vacuum or magnetic interfaces, creating a controlled connection without the need for traditional mooring lines, fenders or human intervention besides the push of a button.
After attachment, the system relies on passive motion compensation. The Mooring arms acts as a controlled fender and pertains distance-management and active dampening, allowing relative vessel motion in multiple degrees of freedom while maintaining separation, alignment and load control.
Energy for damping and controlled response is provided by an accumulator-based system supported by a hydraulic power unit This low-energy architecture enables smooth compensation without continuous high-power actuation.
Key advantages
Ropeless and fenderless ship-to-ship connection
Eliminates conventional mooring lines and fenders, reducing manual intervention and associated safety risks during offshore operations.
Passive 6DOF motion accommodation
Relative vessel motion is absorbed and damped through compensation arms, allowing controlled movement in all six degrees of freedom under dynamic sea conditions.
Low-energy system architecture
Accumulator-based energy delivery, supported by a hydraulic power unit, enables controlled damping and motion accommodation without continuous high-power actuation.
Redundancy by design
System redundancy is inherent to the pad design, ensuring continued operational capability even if individual elements are unavailable.
Compact and integrated footprint
Integrated vacuum tanks within the pad assembly minimise system size and simplify installation in space-constrained offshore environments. This same approach is applied to our hydraulics; We like to deal with the constraints or requirements of our clients.
ATEX compatibility
Designed for safe operation in hazardous offshore envi ronments, including ship-to-ship bunkering and transfer activities.
