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EU Autoship: autonomous ship, DP technologies demonstrated
A supply ship to the world’s first ocean fish farm has demonstrated a range of remote and autonomous technologies using onboard computers, propulsion and dynamic positioning (DP)
Kongsberg Maritime worked with shipping company Eidsvaag to trial these technologies on Eidsvaag Pioner, a 2013-built cargo vessel operating off the coast of Norway.
This 74-m, 2,145-gt vessel is one of two ships equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport demonstrations under the Autoship project, which is part of the Horizon 2020 European Union research programme.
Eidsvaag Pioner operates along the Norwegian coast and in fjord areas around Kristiansund where it carries fish feed to ocean fish farms.
Remote operations and autonomous navigation demonstrations were carried out over 13 hours and involved the vessel completing a voyage on the northwest coast of Norway.
Eidsvaag Pioner undocked from the port of Averøy, sailed to Salmar’s offshore fish farm Ocean Farm 1 and back to port again, a journey of 160 nautical miles in total.
This demonstration was initiated, managed and monitored by a crew from the Kongsberg remote operating centre (ROC) in Ålesund, with crew members on board Eidsvaag Pioner for safety and regulatory requirements.
There was a mix of remote and autonomous operations during different stages of the voyage, plus manoeuvring and positioning using DP close to the fish farm.
“This was an opportunity to show the world remote and autonomous technologies can be successfully deployed on a general cargo vessel, carrying out a range of operational aspects of a typical voyage,” said Kongsberg Maritime chief executive Geir Håøy. “There has been great collaboration between all partners in the Autoship project, and we have all been impressed with how Eidsvaag Pioner performed under remote control and during autonomous sailing and docking,” he said.
The first part of the demonstration included automatic undocking from the quay in the harbour at Averøy, southwest of Kristiansund, with the autonomous technology then taking control to navigate and manoeuvre out of the harbour and further out to open sea.
Eidsvaag Pioner navigated a route between several islands and avoided other sea traffic before arriving at Ocean Farm 1.
“We have demonstrated a range of the key enabling technologies that will lead the way towards routine remote and autonomous operation in the years ahead,” said Mr Håøy.
Manoeuvres were carried out using DP at the fish farm before the vessel returned to port, again navigating open sea and congested seaways before it automatically docked. The entire operation was monitored and occasionally controlled remotely by the shore-based captain and engineer.
Several of Kongsberg’s technologies were tested during the demonstration including its ROC, autodocking and undocking solutions, situational awareness module, autonomous navigation and intelligent machinery systems and its DP, connectivity and cyber security.
Cloud-based communications and advanced simulations were tested and ensured Eidsvaag Pioner was operated safely and optimally.
The Autoship project is a four-year programme to demonstrate remote control and autonomous navigation technologies in areas around the North Sea. This Norwegian demonstration was a collaboration between shipowner Eidsvaag, research organisation SINTEF, the University of Strathclyde in the UK and Kongsberg.
The aim of the project is to test and further develop key technology linked to fully autonomous navigation systems, intelligent machinery systems, self-diagnostics, prognostics and operation scheduling, as well as communications technology enabling a prominent level of cyber security and integrating the vessels into upgraded e-infrastructure.
The second Autoship demonstration will take place 1 June, with a cargo barge navigating part of the inland waterway network in Wintam, Belgium.
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