Digitalization continued to reshape the maritime industry in the year 2018 with a number of developments made in the autonomous and remotely operated ships.
Even though there is some time for the first commercial autonomous vessels to be launched, all the latest technology developments in the field are making the right and much-needed foundation for the futuristic ships.
1. IMO takes steps to address autonomous ships
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the global regulatory body for international shipping – commenced work to look into how safe, secure and environmentally sound Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) operations may be addressed in IMO instruments.
The Organization’s senior technical body, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), endorsed a framework for a regulatory scoping exercise, as work in progress, including preliminary definitions of MASS and degrees of autonomy, as well as a methodology for conducting the exercise and a plan of work.
2. World’s First Fully Autonomous Ferry Demonstrated
Rolls-Royce and Finnish state-owned ferry operator Finferries successfully demonstrated the world’s first fully autonomous ferry in the archipelago south of the city of Turku,Finland.
The car ferry Falco used a combination of Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence technologies to successfully navigate autonomously during its voyage between Parainen and Nauvo. The return journey was conducted under remote control.
The vessel detected objects utilising sensor fusion and artificial intelligence and conducted collision avoidance. It also demonstrated automatic berthing with a recently developed autonomous navigation system. All this was achieved without any human intervention from the crew.
3. World’s First Autonomous Shipping Company
Wilhelmsen and KONGSBERG joined forces to take the next step in autonomous shipping by offering a complete value chain for autonomous ships, from design and development, to control systems, logistics services and vessel operations.
Through the creation of the new company named Massterly, the companies took the next step on this journey by establishing infrastructure and services to design and operate vessels, as well as advanced logistics solutions associated with maritime autonomous operations.
4. Successfully Trials Of First Autonomous Unmanned Survey Vessel
UK-based survey specialist Bibby HydroMap announced the successful completion of testing of ‘DriX’, the 8-metre Autonomous Unmanned Survey Vessel (AUSV) developed by iXblue.
Designed to provide a true extension of survey capability from shallow and inshore waters to a full offshore environment, DriX is a new breed of AUSV that is the first autonomous survey platform to truly rival the performance of a traditional survey vessel.
5. Rolls-Royce Opens Autonomous Ship R&D Centre
Rolls-Royce opened a state-of-the-art research facility in Turku, Finland, to develop the technologies Rolls-Royce and its partners require to shape the future of an increasingly more autonomous global shipping industry.
The new Research & Development Centre for Autonomous Ships includes a Remote and Autonomous Experience Space aimed at showcasing the autonomous ship technologies Rolls-Royce has already introduced as well as those in the development stage.
6. Aker Arctic Demonstrates Autonomous Vessel In Model Tests
An autonomous ship model was successfully tested in Aker Arctic’s ice model test laboratory in Helsinki, Finland this year.
In the demonstration test the ship model was able to detect obstacles in the ice tank utilizing onboard sensors, maneuver around them without operator input and moor itself automatically to a target pier. The test was carried out in ice free waters.
7. DNV GL Releases Autonomous And Remotely Operated Ship Guidelines
To help build a safety culture around these new technologies for autonomous shipping, DNV GL has released a new class guideline covering autonomous and remotely operated ships.
The guideline covers new operational concepts that do not fit within existing regulations, and technologies that control functions that would normally be performed by humans. In terms of new operational concepts, the guideline helps those who would like to implement new concepts with a process towards obtaining approval under the alternative design requirements by the flag state.
Source:marineinsight
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