Partnership combines DP with autopilot for smart navigation

Through this MOU, Alphatron Marine and Navis intend to provide a comprehensive range to support safe, efficient navigation and autonomous operations including routeing ships through the ECO-pilot, and automated harbour approach and docking operations.

It is expected to include JRC’s smart decision support systems currently under development, which will support navigators by calculating the safest route in crowded sailing areas. For example, after the officer’s acknowledgement of a waypoint change on an JRC multifunctional workstation, the proposed route containing information with course and speed can be directly executed by the motion control system.

Mr Miwa said this is a large step forward into supported sailing and semi-autonomous ships.

Navis has been developing motion control systems for 30 years, 15 of which it has been co-operating with Alphatron, said Navis Engineering chief executive Petr Opekunov. “Our companies are dedicated to making shipping safer and more efficient by supporting the crew in operations and decision making,” he said.

“That is why the partnership makes sense, allowing our companies to create new, innovative and complex products following the latest industry trends and customer demands.”

This long-term co-operation has produced Dynapilot, a combination of autopilot, joystick control and DP functionality. The first new product to be provided to ship projects under the MoU between the companies, it is scheduled for launch in Q4 2021.

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