Danelec and DanPilot have partnered up to unveil a test program for the world’s first data-driven remote pilotage.
After six years of development and approved by the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the test program created by DanPilot and Danelec allows pilots to guide ships from land, using only data transmitted directly from the vessels.
The aim is to improve pilot safety and reduce fuel consumption for ships without compromising navigational safety. Furthermore, the approval has been granted as part of a broader effort to enhance safety and preparedness at sea. The test will serve as a foundation for future regulation and possible broader application, both nationally and internationally.
Remote pilotage makes our work safer and helps reduce both CO₂ emissions and operational costs for our customers. We have worked intensively towards this for six years, and now we can finally test it in practice. It has the potential to become a major paradigm shift in how pilotage is carried out.
…said Erik Merkes Nielsen, CEO, DanPilot.
The remote pilotage program will take place in the Kattegat and the western Baltic Sea and for the first time, it allows pilots to guide selected ships through Danish waters without boarding them physically. Instead, the operation is carried out from a control center in the city of Randers, removing the most hazardous part of a pilot’s job, the physical boarding of ships.
Additionally, during the test phase, the technology will only be used on vessels that meet specific technical requirements and only in designated waters.
The test is conducted in collaboration with a range of shipping companies, including Maersk, which contributes ships operating in the test area.
Remote pilotage is not only a technological breakthrough – it is a strategic step towards safer and more sustainable shipping. We are proud to deliver the technological infrastructure that enables safe navigation without the physical presence of a pilot. Here, cybersecurity – a cornerstone of our technology – is a prerequisite for implementing the solution safely and at scale in the global maritime sector.
…said Casper Jensen, CEO, Danelec.
