US-based autonomous technology company Sea Machines Robotics and the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) have joined forces to showcase how Sea Machines’ autonomous technology can be used to increase the safety and efficiency of marine oil spill response operations.
On-water exercises will be conducted once Sea Machines equips a Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC)-owned MARCO skimming vessel—manufactured by Kvichak Marine Industries—with its SM300 autonomous-command system. Sea Machines will also train MSRC personnel on how to operate the system.
Equipped with a MARCO filter belt skimmer to recover oil from the surface of the water, the skimming vessel usually operates in coastal or near-shore areas.
As explained, the autonomous system will provide capabilities like remote autonomous control from an onshore location or secondary vessel, collaborative autonomy for multi-vessel operations, and obstacle detection and collision avoidance.
Autonomous technology has the power to not only help prevent vessel accidents that can lead to spills, but can also facilitate better preparedness; aid in safer, efficient, and effective clean-up. We look forward to working closely with MARAD and MSRC in these industry-modernizing exercises,
…explains CEO Michael G. Johnson, Sea Machines.
Sea Machines and MSRC will perform simulated oil spill recovery exercises in the harbor of Portland, Maine on 21 August, before an audience made up of government, naval, international, environmental and industry partners.
Automation seems to gain an increased interest amid the shipping industry, with IMO’s latest Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 101) in June approving the framework on the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).
