SIREHNA, a subsidiary of France’s Naval Group specialising in uncrewed vessel tech, has been selected to develop an innovative system for replenishment vessels operated by the French Navy.
The Automated Replenishment Telemetry at Sea (TELMA) project aims to significantly enhance the efficiency and safety of replenishment between ships. It is hoped that the technology developed in the TELMA project will be incorporated into four Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Force (BRF, replenishment vessels) being built under the FLOTLOG programme, the aim of which is to replace the French Navy’s single-hull replenishment oilers.
The programme, which is being undertaken by a consortium formed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group, is being conducted under the aegis of OCCAR, a joint organisation for armament cooperation, for the benefit of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and its Italian counterpart, NAVARM.
Conventionally, replenishment at sea is carried out using a line marked with pennants. The distance between ships and their movements toward or away from each other are monitored by ‘counting’ pennants. Although functional and robust, the technique has its limitations in terms of precision and responsiveness, particularly in adverse weather conditions or during complex manoeuvres.
TELMA will provide navigational assistance during the approach phase and throughout replenishment at sea operations, with information displayed to the crew on the bridge of the replenishment vessel and externally to the vessel being replenished. The primary goal is to provide a clear, real-time display of the distance between vessels as they approach one another. In doing so, it will enhance accuracy and simplify coordination between the crew on the replenishment vessel and vessel being replenished, reducing the risk of human error and improving efficiency.
TELMA will use advanced sensors, including a radar rangefinder and robust external displays. The system will allow two ships to be replenished simultaneously, port and starboard, for liquid and solid supplies. External displays on the bow of a vessel, port and starboard, will provide information about the distance between vessels and their movement in real-time, enabling crew on vessels being replenished to visualise the situation and make appropriate decisions to adjust manoeuvres.