Artificial intelligence, augmented reality and algorithms will enhance safety and provide tug masters with better operational information
Autonomous navigation technology has the potential to revolutionise the towage industry, particularly tug navigation. By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, autonomous navigation systems can operate in complex and dynamic environments with improved safety and efficiency.
Avikus senior researcher and product manager Wonchul Yoo says the widespread adoption of autonomous navigation solutions is still in its early stages, but the potential benefits for the maritime industry are significant.
“As these systems continue to be refined and tested, we can expect to see a major shift in how tugboats are operated in the coming years,” he says. Autonomous navigation and remote-controlled technologies for tugs are being designed to assist and augment decision making for humans on an operational level, such as tug masters in the wheelhouse.
This is different from either unmanned shipping, which would be fully automated, or remotely controlled vessels, which are controlled by a human from a remote location.
In case of the towage sector, Svitzer and other owners have remotely controlled tugs in pilot projects using various technologies and communications networks. They have found it is possible to control a tug during transits, but not when they are manoeuvring ships.
Mr Yoo says fully autonomous tugs and remote control are impractical due to limitations to full automation. “No maritime autonomy can guarantee 100% safe navigation,” he says. “And there is no maritime communication that can guarantee 100% connectivity."
Autonomous applications for tugboats remain nascent due to their complex manoeuvres, whereas navigation systems are already adopted and constantly used for safe operations.
“We have solutions to navigate through ports, but we do not have solutions to automate towage operations. It is a big challenge,” Mr Yoo says.
Avikus has researched and developed an autonomous navigational awareness assistant to augment information tug masters already have for safe operations in ports and along coastlines. It completed a test voyage using this technology in May 2022, and intends to make this assistant available for commercial projects early in 2024.
“We are going to release it onto the market in January 2024. And I bet my competitors will release their systems onto the market next year, too,” he says.
Leading solutions in the market consist of advanced sensors, software and control systems designed to facilitate safe and efficient maritime operations. They offer real-time situational awareness and decision support to masters by using sensors, such as LiDAR and radar, mixed with automatic identification system (AIS) information, electronic navigational systems and ECDIS.
These systems continually monitor the surrounding environment, providing operators with valuable information on potential hazards and obstacles, enabling vessel operators to make informed decisions and execute precise manoeuvres.
Solutions designed for small vessels provide autonomous navigation and docking without any human intervention, while those developed for workboats and tugboats provide information on the distance and velocity of the target ship for the tug operation.
“Market adoption of autonomous navigation solutions is still in its early stages, with pilot projects and trials being conducted to validate their performance and reliability,” says Mr Yoo.
“Most of the autonomous navigation industry is more focused on other types of ships or boats. But in 10 years, the autonomous tugboat will be the future of this industry.”
He thinks autonomous tugs would become mainstream in the next 10 years.
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