Tag: automation

'The future of automated ports', an online study by McKinsey & Company consulting firm, suggests that the port sector is underdeveloped regarding automation, in comparison other industries. The sector could consequently benefit from automation if it confronts the challenges with careful planning and implementation.

Swire Seabed has completed the first autonomous inspection of offshore pipeline systems in October 2018, for Equinor, using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The vessel provided positional updates to the vehicle. 

The Ice-class passenger ferry Suomenlinna II was remotely piloted through test area near Helsinki harbour. This was the world’s first remote trial for an existing passenger ferry, which aimed to prove that human oversight of vessels remotely is achievable with today’s technologies.

A new Unmanned Surface Vessel or inland waterways surveying has presented its ability to follow programmed survey missions. Micro Rapid Environmental Assessment Vessel (mREAV) is also able to provide live survey data, in order to create precise bathymetries in shallow-water or dangerous environments.

Rolls-Royce announced that in collaboration with Finferries presented the world's first fully remote and autonomous ferry. The ferry is part of the Project SVAN (Safer Vessel with Autonomous Navigation), which tests the findings from the Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications (AAWA) research project.

EMSA has secured four contracts for maritime surveillance services based on remotely piloted aircraft systems. These contracts aims to improve maritime surveillance capabilities to European agencies and member states.

A new type of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) has been successfully tested off the Orkney Isles in northern Scotland during a marine robot demonstration coordinated by the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC).  The trial seeks to help the Royal Navy better understand how to deploy and operate marine autonomous systems.

Wärtsilä, the technology group, conducted a successful round of tests on its automated dock-to-dock solution. The system was tested on ‘Folgefonn’ ferry, which visited all three ports serviced by the vessel, with the autonomous operation being utilised uninterrupted for the entire route. 

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA, Capt. Rajesh Unni Founder & CEO of Synergy Marine Group, discussed key issues surrounding life onboard as well as the existing and future challenges for seafarers. In this regard, he referred on how rising automation is expected to create new demands on skills in IT, communications, and engineering.

Five of the largest container shipping companies, MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and Ocean Network Express, are planning to establish an association to pave the way for digitalization, standardization and interoperability of the container shipping industry.