What is ISO 20661 about?
ISO 20661 is an International Standard on ships and marine technology that aims to provide optimal functionality and performance of its related equipments and systems.
ISO 20661 specifies the components and structure, general requirements, and subsystem functional requirements, of cutter suction dredger supervisory and control systems.
ISO 20661 applies only to the installed components, functions, or systems.
ISO 20661 covers the design, manufacture, and modifications.
Who is ISO 20661 for?
ISO 20661 on cutter suction dredger supervisory and control systems is applicable to:
- Ships and marine technology providers
- Manufacturers of parts and equipment used in marine technology
- Product design engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Port development and maintenance authorities
Why should you use ISO 20661?
A cutter suction dredger cuts hard soil into fragments with a rotating cutter head that is used for dredging silt, sand, clay and rock.
ISO 20661 provides guidelines on the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system which can be essential in monitoring and controlling the main dredging installation, cutter drive system, dredge pump system, dredging valves, swing winches, ladder winch, anchor and anchor boom winches (if any) and the spud and spud carriage system.
Moreover, the standardised industry practice on graphical adoptions for alarm levels provided in ISO 20661 is important to communicate effectively and mitigate risks in case dredging equipment fails or running parameters are oversetting values.
ISO 20661 also takes into account the necessary parameters to be covered on the dredging profile monitor (DPM) for accurate information on depth and position of the cutter, width of cutting, swing speed and the dredger's draught available at all times.
Overall, an effective SCADA system in compliance with ISO 20661 is essential to ensure the spud is lowered in the seabed to secure the vessel from product failures and damages.
