Autonomous Ships - A reality by 2030

Rolls-Royce Opens First Ship Intelligence Experience Space Rolls-Royce has opened the first in a series of ship intelligence experience spaces to show its customers, suppliers and partners how the latest digital solutions can transform the marine industry. The first Intelligent Asset Management (IAM) experience space, opened today in Ålesund, Norway, demonstrates how ship intelligence systems can harness the “power of data” to optimise fleet operations, reduce operating costs and improve maintenance procedures. The IAM space provides an area for Rolls-Royce customers to validate the advantages of using IAM systems, such as the Rolls-Royce Energy Management (EM) and Equipment Health Management (EHM) portals in real-time, operational environments. Mikael Makinen, Rolls-Royce, President – Marine, said: “I am delighted to officially pronounce the Ålesund IAM Experience Space open for business. It is often difficult to convey the many commercial and operational benefits o...

Wärtsilä clinches smart ferry contract Wärtsilä Corp will deliver its latest bridge and prediction software to a ferry being built in China. Wärtsilä has won a contract to provide navigation, ship intelligence, propulsion, dual-fuel engines and a ballast water management system to a ferry being built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry for Finland-based operator, Viking Line. Viking’s newbuild ferry bridge will have a Nacos Platinum integrated navigation system that will enable the ship to be navigated, controlled, and monitored from several work stations. It will include radar, ECDIS, conning, propulsion controls and communications. Also included in the bridge system will be a version of Wärtsilä SmartPredict, which provides officers with information to improve ship safety and manoeuvring. This predicts a vessel’s future position and heading based on environmental and system information. Wärtsilä SmartPredict evaluates the wind and sea forces affecting the vessel t...

Next step in remote control vessels I witnessed the latest step along the road to autonomous vessels during a trial of a remotely controlled tugboat in Copenhagen, Denmark, last week. It was interesting seeing a master control the tug,  Svitzer Hermod , during manoeuvres around one of Copenhagen’s harbours, from a remote centre. The tug was sailed through waters where other workboats were operating, from a remote operating centre in Svitzer’s offices, the master was then able to bring  Svitzer Hermod  to a standstill when touching a vessel that was designated to be manoeuvred by the tug. He delicately handled the tug so that its bow just touched the other vessel’s starboard side. Then the master manoeuvred  Svitzer Hermod  back out, turned it around and moored it by the quayside. As a demonstration of what can be achieved, this was a remarkable test. The technology includes dynamic positioning on the tug, shore-to-ship communications using cel...

Wärtsilä reports that it has completed a successful test of a remotely controlled ship, operating the vessel from shore while on a different continent through a sequence of manoeuvres using a combination of Dynamic Positioning (DP) and manual joystick control. The test was carried out off the North Sea coast of Scotland in collaboration with Gulfmark Offshore, with the US-based operator providing the vessel for the project, an 80 metre platform supply vessel named Highland Chieftain. Although the test vessel was in the North Sea, navigation was remotely controlled from Wärtsilä’s office in San Diego, California, some 8,000 km away. Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Positioning unit has had remote control capabilities built-in since 2016, but this was the first test carried out on an offshore vessel. The vessel is already also fitted with a Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum package for Navigation, Automation and Dynamic Positioning systems, as well as a Wärtsilä drives package. For the test, addi...

A new report from law firm Clyde & Co and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) has suggested that approximately two-thirds of 220 maritime industry executives surveyed (64 per cent) believe there is uncertainty surrounding liability issues relating to unmanned ships should a vessel be involved in an incident as a result of a cyber-attack. “Technology is today advancing at an unprecedented rate and promises a host of new solutions for the maritime industry in terms of improved efficiency, safety and environmental performance. However, we should not be blinded by the benefits,” said David Loosley, chief executive, IMarEST. “We must also remain alert to the potential risks. This joint research report examines these vulnerabilities and how they might be addressed and is an important starting point for the industry to begin preparing for the future.” The majority of survey respondents, at 59 per cent, also agreed that there is confusion su...

A BB has launched a new situational awareness system that can be used by officers anywhere onboard a ship to access multiple real-time visualisations of a vessel’s surroundings. ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision incorporates sensor and computer vision technology to create a virtual model of the ship that is superimposed on real surroundings, to view operations from a third person’s perspective. The officer can switch between views as required. “The launch of ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision addresses an important step in the ongoing digitalisation of ship operations,” said Juha Koskela, managing director at ABB Marine & Ports. “This new solution indicates an important landmark in ABB’s digital strategy and offering for our customers. It also demonstrates the aspiration and technology leadership that ABB has to offer for the maritime industry.” In addition to providing situational awareness support on board existing ships, ABB expects the new system to prove useful in en...

The introduction of autonomous ships, often described as the next step for the maritime industry, is looming as projects have already been launched to make the smart ship concept a reality. One of the examples is the construction of  the world’s first  electric and autonomous containership, Yara Birkeland, which is expected to start autonomous operation in 2019. Numerous benefits of autonomous ships have been identified including lower costs, more efficient use of space in ship design, more efficient use of fuel and lower risk of human error on board, which has been the main cause of accidents at sea. However, the smart ship revolution brings a myriad of challenges that are yet to be resolved, aside to technological hurdles. These involve resolving the issue of navigational safety, protection from cyber threats and creation of a major incentive for owners and operators to invest in autonomous ships before they can become mainstream. World Maritime News spo...

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is developing the acceptance criteria for the usage of aerial drones for ship survey on board Singapore-registered ships. The acceptance criteria will be ready by first quarter next year, according to the port authority. The move was prompted by increasing usage of drones armed with cameras and ship inspecting robots for ship surveys, and several trials using drones to survey cargo ships. Such methods of remote inspection have been described as safer and time and cost saving for ship-owners as they eliminate the need for the traditional method of survey such as erecting staging in the cargo tanks. Marine surveyors also do not have to risk their lives by having to climb high places or be exposed to adverse conditions to check for defects. Furthermore, starting this month the MPA will be introducing several service enhancements for over 4,600 ships flying the Singapore flag. These will include a 24/7 h...

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has teamed up with Fujitsu Laboratories, and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology to verify the accuracy of technology to estimate vessel performance at sea by applying Fujitsu’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology, FUJITSU Human Centric AI Zinrai. This project is a part of MOL’s initiative to assess the effectiveness of AI technology and aims to reduce fuel consumption and vessels’ environmental impact. The actual voyage data provided by MOL included information such as speed, fuel consumption, main engine rpm, wind direction, wind speed, recorded from October 12, 2015 to December 13, 2015.                                   Results of verification Could estimate vessel speed with about a 1.4% allowance, and fuel consumption with an allowance of about 0.8%, based on the above-mentioned method. The following graphs show t...

Houston-based classification society ABS has joined the Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance to work with industry partners, including class organizations, shipyards, equipment manufacturers and designers to advance autonomous shipping. The design will integrate features of independent decision-making, autonomous navigation, environmental perception and remote control. “Increased digitization, advanced technologies and new levels of connectivity are changing the way the maritime industry operates,”   Eric Kleess, ABS Greater China Division President,  said. “In the coming years, we will see significant changes in the way ships are designed and built, with a strong drive to develop autonomous vessels especially in China. As a key member of this alliance, ABS is aligned closely with industry to support safer and more sustainable maritime operations,”  Kleess added. The Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance, chaired by HNA Technology Group Co, Ltd., was f...