Skip to main content
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 formed with nine members, including ABS, CCS, China Ship Research & Development Institute, Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute, Ltd, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd, Marine Design Research Institute of China (MARIC), Rolls-Royce, and Wartsila.
The alliance officially launched at the end of June and expects to deliver the unmanned cargo ship by October 2021.
“Through this collaborative effort, we will apply the latest technologies to develop a new autonomous ship concept,” Li Weijian, HNA Technology Group Vice Chairman, said.
“The newly formed alliance is advancing new innovations in ship design and operations, and also working to promote the safe adoption of these assets in the market,” Weijian informed.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Usage of ECDIS - Not as anticipated - A report

ECDIS Not Being Used as Anticipated The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has announced that it is conducting a safety study, in collaboration with the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board, to understand why operators are not using ECDIS as envisaged by regulators and the system manufacturers.  The news follows the release of a MAIB investigation report into the grounding of the bulk carrier  Muros . In the early hours of December 3, 2016, the  Muros  ran aground on Haisborough Sand, eight miles off the Norfolk coast.  When  Muros  grounded, she was following a passage plan shown on its electronic chart and display information system (ECDIS). The MAIB investigation found that: • The vessel was following a planned track across Haisborough Sand. The passage plan in the ECDIS had been revised by the second officer less than three hours before the grounding and it had not been seen or approved by the master. ...

Rolls-Royce, ESA to Work on Shipping’s Digital Future

UK-based engineering company Rolls-Royce and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at pursuing space activities in support of autonomous, remote controlled shipping and promoting innovation in European digital logistics. As explained, the two parties aim to develop and validate new solutions for communication between vessel systems and shore-based systems in addition to ship-to-ship communication. This will enable the operation of commercial remote and autonomous shipping, innovative cargo logistics, smart ports and future commercial marine vessels. “The space industry has been operating assets remotely for many decades. The information, software and satellite-based technologies the sector has developed are wholly relevant to the work Rolls-Royce is doing to make the remote and autonomous ship a reality,”  Karno Tenovuo, Rolls-Royce, SVP Ship Intelligence , said. “This agreement is another demonstration of the positive application...

IMO Assembly Elects New 40-Member Council

IMO Assembly Elects New 40-Member Council The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected new members of its council for the 2018-2019 biennium. Category (a) includes ten states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States. Category (b) comprises ten states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates. Category (c) encompasses 20 states not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, ...