Wärtsilä announced that it successfully tested its remote guidance service, a digital way of optimizing vessel repaid and maintenance operations. By using augmented reality ‘wearables’ and a remote guidance software, crewmembers, field service engineers and shipyard personnel, among other Wärtsilä customers will have the opportunity to achieve real-time communication, with personnel onshore, located anywhere in the world.
Specifically, according to the company’s statement, the new technology was trialled onboard ‘Huckleberry Finn’, a TT-Lines ro-ro ferry travelling between Trelleborg, Sweden and Travemünde, Germany.
Along the journey simulated conditions in which the remote guidance service was needed were conducted, both for the vessel’s navigation equipment on the bridge and shaft line seals and bearings in the engine room.
Yet, in order to have a Wi-Fi conectivity for the communication, the company installed a portable on-deck LTE antenna on the vessel.
The test saw simulations monitored in real-time by Wärtsilä personnel working from both Gothenburg, Sweden and Hamburg, Germany.
Thomas Pauly, Future Technologies Product Manager at Wärtsilä Marine, stated that the technology’s success is an example of the company’s strong capabilities in remote guidance service.
Wartsila stated that the technology was a co-creation with TT Lines.
Concluding, Thomas Busch, Superintendent at TT-Lines, reported that the connectivity when operating at sea was noteworthy.
