How is motion monitoring used in offshore oil and gas?
Motion monitoring is fundamental to ensuring safety, operational efficiency, and asset integrity within the offshore oil and gas industry. Accurate, real-time measurement of vessel and equipment motion, including Roll, Pitch, Heave, Yaw, Surge, and Sway (6 Degrees of Freedom - 6DoF), is essential for conducting complex operations safely and effectively in dynamic maritime environments.
Norwegian Subsea's high-performance Motion Reference Units (MRUs) provide the critical motion data required by various essential systems. This includes Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems for precise vessel station-keeping, Helideck Monitoring Systems (HMS) to ensure safe helicopter operations, Active Heave Compensation (AHC) systems for stable crane and winch performance, and Motion Compensated Gangways that allow for secure personnel transfers between vessels and installations.
Our robust sensors are also integral to a wide range of subsea activities. They enable precise navigation and control for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), facilitate accurate subsea surveys, and provide vital monitoring for critical equipment such as Blowout Preventers (BOPs) and risers. Furthermore, our MRUs can be employed for structural health monitoring of fixed and floating offshore platforms.
Norwegian Subsea provides a comprehensive range of reliable MRUs specifically engineered for the demanding conditions encountered offshore. This includes the versatile, IP68-rated MRU Marine for deck or shallow water use, the 6000m depth-rated titanium MRU Subsea for deepwater applications, and the certified MRU Ex for deployment in hazardous areas. Our sensors are known for their high accuracy, robust design, ease of integration using standard industry protocols, and cost-effectiveness, making them ideal for both new projects and as drop-in replacements for retrofitting older systems.
Related products
Usage area
50 m depth, IP 68
Connectors
Lemo or SubConn 8 or SubConn 16
Roll & Pitch accuracy
- 3000±0.05°
- 6000±0.02°
- 9000±0.01°
Heave accuracy
5 cm or 5.0%
Usage area
6000 m depth
Connectors
SubConn 8
Roll & Pitch accuracy
- 3000±0.05°
- 6000±0.02°
- 9000±0.01°
Heave accuracy
5 cm or 5.0%
Usage area
Hazardous areas
Connectors
Pigtail cable
Roll & Pitch accuracy
- 3000±0.05°
- 6000±0.02°
- 9000±0.01°
Heave accuracy
5 cm or 5.0%
Usage area
IP 65
Connectors
RJ45 or RJ50
Roll & Pitch accuracy
- 3000±0.05°
- 6000±0.02°
- 9000±0.01°
Heave accuracy
5 cm or 5.0%
Further reading
Advanced motion compensation for sonars introduced at Ocean Business 2025
MRUs for vessel performance optimisation in focus at Europort 2025
Research Project to Test Value of MRU Data for Vessel Performance and Carbon Reduction
Related questions
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What is the difference between the MRU Marine and MRU Marine SW?
- The MRU Marine has an IP-68 rating, uses a Lemo 16-pin connector and has indicator lights.
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When navigating the complexities of motion sensing and navigation systems, it is essential to understand the distinctions between devices and systems like Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), Inclinometers, Roll & Pitch sensors, Vertical Reference Units (VRU), Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), Motion Reference Units (MRUs), Gyrocompasses, and GNSS-Aided Inertial Navigation Systems (GNSS/INS). Each serves specific purposes and offers different levels of functionality, accuracy, and application scope.
Gyrocompass
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The MRU Compact uses a standard RJ45 ethernet cable where power is supplied through Passive PoE (Power over Ethernet). In most cases you cannot connect the MRU directly to a an ethernet switch with PoE, since most of these are Active PoE.
We normally supply your first MRU Compact with a start kit containing a POE RJ45 spliter socket. You will only need standard RJ45 cat5 ethernet cables to connect the MRU to the spliter socket and the spliter socket to your PC or ethernet switch.
Related applications
Dynamic Positioning
Dynamic positioning (DP) of vessels necessitates roll and pitch compensation of the GNSS antenna to ensure accurate positioning of the ship's control point.
Wave Radar
Accurate heave measurements play a vital role in compensating for Wave Radar measurements when installed on ships or other floating vessels.
Wind Turbines
Accurate and precise motion monitoring is crucial for wind turbine towers to ensure structural integrity and optimise performance.
Helideck Monitoring
Accurate measurement of roll, pitch, and heave motions is crucial for assessing the safety of helidecks during helicopter landing and take-off operations.
Subsea Surveys
Subsea surveys often demand precise tilt measurements (roll and pitch) for various purposes, such as installation tasks or continuous monitoring of tilt changes and deflections in subsea structures.
Motion Compensated Gangways
Accurate measurements of all 6 degrees of freedom are essential for the automatic motion control of gangways.
Riser Monitoring
The NORSUB Subsea MRU is specifically designed to provide highly accurate measurements of roll, pitch (inclination), and lateral motions in risers.
BOP Monitoring
Accurate motion sensors play a crucial role in the structural monitoring of Blowout Preventers (BOPs), enabling the measurement of inclination and lateral displacements.
ROV/AUV
Reliable motion sensors are vital components in the navigation system and motion compensation of payload sensors for ROVs and AUVs.
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