The first Chinese smart ship was presented this week as part of Marintec China 2017, with LR cyber-enabled ship descriptive notes, designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) and built at Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co., Ltd (GWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The vessel ‘Great Intelligence’, a 38,800 dwt modified version of the Green Dolphin fuel-efficient Bulk Carrier concept, is the pilot smart ship project within China.
Lloyd’s Register’s latest CES descriptive notes will be assigned to the project and the latest requirements are applied to this ship. The vessel achieved LR’s CES descriptive notes – Cyber AL2 Safe (Navigation, Propulsion, Steering), Cyber AL2 Maintain (M/E, A/E, Boiler, Shaft) and Cyber AL2 Perform (Energy Management).
Along with LR, System Engineering research Institute (SERI) and China Class Society (CCS) were also involved in this project.
Nick Brown, LR Marine & Offshore Director said: “LR is extremely pleased to be presenting this first smart ship in China with our latest cyber-enabled ship descriptive notes. It is a true landmark for all parties involved and another step forward in our digital journey as an industry, as well as a milestone for smart shipping in China.”
As explained by Qiu Bohua, Director, CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, Oceanic Intelligent Technology Innovation Centre, the Ship Operation and Maintenance System (SOMS) utilises advanced sensing technology to build the ship’s network and it builds the brain based on intelligent technologies, such as machine learning. SOMS also realises the intelligent application, such as energy efficiency management system and health management system.
Factory acceptance and sea trial tests for the Great Intelligence’s smart system took place last month and the following functions are included within the smart system onboard the vessel:
- SOMS Health Management – It monitors the ship’s main equipment operational parameters. This information can then be used to support decisions on the actions to be taken.
- SOMS Energy Efficiency Management – It provides energy efficiency monitoring, analytics and optimisation (for example energy consumption during the voyage, voyage parameters and ship condition for energy optimisation), energy efficiency historical data analysis, energy efficiency management (for example fuel and emissions control) and decision-making support.
- SOMS Intelligent Integration Platform – IIP is the core of the smart ship intelligence, integrating the data from the Energy efficiency management system and the Health management system. This platform provides the functions of data management, analysis and forecasting. The IIP integrates data from the different systems to provide end-user support.
- Intelligent Navigation System – It is intended to augment existing vessel’s systems and not to replace or impact existing vessel safety systems. Data from ship and shore-based service stations is collected and analysed against baseline ship’s route information in order to identify opportunities for route optimisation, for example the alteration of the ship’s route to avoid adverse meteorological conditions, such as crossing typhoon; or the modification of the route to avoid identified obstacles. The Intelligent Navigation System also provides smart functions such as ship route optimisation to reach the destination in shortest time, with minimal fuel consumption, with the most comfortable or most economic voyage. It should be noted that actions taken in response to any information provided by the Intelligent Navigation System shall be by human.
