Wärtsilä Marine Solutions used additive manufacturing (AM) in order to create a crucial component for an inert gas system; In this technological step, DNV GL assisted in a time when initial production prototypes displayed an unexpected characteristic.
Concerning SEA-KIT International Ltd’s autonomous vessel that sailed from the UK to Belgium, BBC contacted various industry stakeholders discussing the advantages of autonomous shipping, while also the dangers behind it, keeping in mind that many are those who support that automation in the shipping industry may jeopardise seafarers’ jobs.
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) launched its Smart Ship Solution, which received approval in principle from Lloyd’s Register. The application is a fleet monitoring smart ECDIS and surveillance system.
Today, partners announced the completion of a demonstration test, using the TUMST training ship Shioji Maru for their proposed joint demonstration project related to the safety of vessels’ auto berthing and un-berthing. The project was selected for Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT)’s FY2018 autonomous vessel demonstration project.
Ulstein and Schottel announced that they will begin a cooperation to take the next step in automation and digitalisation within marine operations. Namely, the former Ulstein subsidiary, Ulstein Blue CTRL, will continue as an independent company under the name Blue CTRL. Both Ulstein and Schottel will own 50% of the shares in the company. Deliveries from the company will be based on the X-CONNECT platform.
An Asia-Pacific container handling terminal is looking towards the future for ports, as it seeks to automate rubber-tyred gantry container handling systems to increase efficiency and safety benefits. Terminal Petikemas Semarang (TPKS) in Semarang, Central Java, extended the world’s first commercially operated fleet of Konecranes Automated Rubber Tyre Gantry cranes with nine new ARTGs.
In efforts of keeping track of the weather forecasts and predict how the weather will evolve, a team of researchers devised a computer model that, allegedly, will help forecasters spot developing storms faster and more accurately.
The Port of Amsterdam announced a pilot project deploying a sailing drone that inspects the depth of marginal ships at the locks of IJmuiden, in a bid to gain experience in new technologies in nautical processes. The experiment is underway this week, 8-13 July.
In line with an overall tendency to automation, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is currently testing robots onboard nine ships, to improve ship painting and shorten the docking time. The shipyard staff works by hand on the bulbous bow, below the bilge keels, at the propeller apertures, and on the flat bottom.
The Maritime Union of Australia reported that wharfies are striking for 48 hours at DP World’s Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle container terminals, and for 96 hours in Melbourne, to fight against automation, outsourcing, cuts to income protection insurance.
