Wärtsilä concluded the testing of its autodocking technology. The tests were carried out with the “Folgefonn”, an 83-metre long ferry. The installation of autodocking on a ferry is a world first.
The autodocking tests were conducted in January and were completed in April with actual harbour docking trials. During the tests the captain didn’t need to take manual control.
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The system is activated some 2000 metres from the berth and the vessel continues at normal transit speed. The system then performs a gradual slowing of speed, and activates the line-up and docking manoeuvre fully automatically until the ship is berthed.
When the ship is ready to sail again, the system can be used for the departure procedure as well. Manoeuvring of the vessel is automatically controlled by the software, with manual control possible at any time.