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UPDATE: autonomous tug completes 1,000-mile journey
Sea Machines has successfully circumnavigated Denmark with a remotely-controlled tug operating autonomously for almost 97% of its 1,025.6 nautical-mile voyage
Damen-designed and built Nellie Bly completed the voyage around Denmark while being controlled by mariners based in Boston, Massachusetts in the US.
Sea Machines SM300 autonomous system is being used to command Nellie Bly on the so-called ’Machine Odyssey’ from Cuxhaven to Hamburg and around Denmark.
It passed the 1,000 nautical mile mark on 15 October on the final part of this voyage from Glückstadt, sailing through the Kiel Canal to the Baltic and travelling up the east coast of Denmark, rounding Skagen before reaching Aalborg.
It was due to be controlled down the North Sea coast past Esbjerg, but a decision was made to go down the east side of Jutland due to forecast weather and winds on the western side of Denmark.
As it passed 1,000 nautical miles, Nellie Bly had completed 342 collision avoidance manoeuvres.
Nellie Bly’s voyage was streamed live through cameras on the tugboat, and viewers were regularly updated on the distance travelled. This voyage is the furthest distance travelled by an autonomous surface-going maritime vessel.
“We continue to push the boundaries and capabilities of our system on every leg,” said Sea Machines’ Machine Odyssey project Capt Steve Turano. “The SM300 is proving to be a resilient piece of technology that is allowing us to complete our legs with ease.”
Real-time monitoring is made possible by a mission dashboard, enabling the public to witness the autonomous technology in action.
Nellie Bly arrived in Copenhagen on 6 October where Sea Machines welcomed guests for a planned celebration and educational event on Ofelia Harbor Pier in nearby Luftkastellet.
Nellie Bly left Copenhagen on 7 October to Hundested, passing through the narrowest stretch of the voyage at Øresund and rounded the top of Zealand.
On 8 October, Nellie Bly was enroute to Denmark’s largest container port of Aarhus, with a route around islands of the Danish Straits, including the uninhabited island of Hjelm, Tunø and Samsø, the world’s first 100% renewable island.
On 9 October, Nellie Bly sailed to Læsø, passing Mols Bjerge National Park and passing the 500 nautical milestone.
Nellie Bly reached Skagen on 10 October and started its voyage along the western coastline on 11 October, first to Aalborg, then to Hvide Sande, Esbjerg, Helgoland and to Cuxhaven before travelling to Hamburg.
“Technology, such as autonomy, moves all industries forward, enabling them to be healthier, more robust and more competitive,” said Sea Machines chief executive Michael Johnson.
“Technology like ours is strengthening this industry by enabling more ships to work on water and creating more direct supply chains point-to-point on the water. It is time to move our industries into the 21st century with technology.”
As of 11 October, Nellie Bly was underway from Skagen, the northern-most port on its voyage, enroute to Aalborg. It has travelled 650 nautical miles and completed 117 collision avoidance manoeuvres.
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