Two conferences will examine technologies that enable remote-control and autonomous tug operations for the next generation of clean-powered tugs
The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is partnering with vessel builders and technology providers in smart tug projects, making Singapore a centre for developing remote-controlled and autonomous tugs.
MPA is working with Keppel Offshore & Marine’s subsidiary Keppel Singmarine to produce an autonomous tug with Keppel Smit Towage. They will be working with class society ABS, Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine Singapore on developing an autonomous tug by Q4 2020.
In a separate project, Singapore tug owner PSA Marine is working in collaboration with Wärtsilä on the IntelliTug project to test technical systems including autonomous systems, robotics, data analytics, artificial intelligence and green technologies to assist masters in collision detection and avoidance, and virtual anchoring with enhanced situational awareness at night and in complex conditions. They will be testing this technology on 2018-built habour tug PSA Polaris.
Project developments will be outlined and discussed at Riviera Maritime Media’s Smart Tug Operations Conference on 16 September 2019, in Singapore. This conference will profile smart tug technology from technical, operational, commercial, regulatory and environmental perspectives.
Authoritative experts in these fields from PSA Marine, ABS, DNV GL, Kongsberg Maritime, Lloyd’s Register, MTU, Novatug, ST Engineering and Wärtsilä will highlight the case for smart tug technology using case studies and project development updates. Speakers will discuss challenges and predicted benefits of autonomous operations.
They will present emerging technologies to tackle challenges in the tug industry and discuss how digitalisation will change the tug master’s role.
There will be a panel discussion covering how the latest smart solutions improve efficiency, safety and minimise costs and another covering how performance monitoring and predictive maintenance optimises tug operations.
A session will analyse the costs and benefits of using smart technologies for various functions and processes. This will include developing standards for smart technologies and to what extent suppliers allow information sharing with other platforms while remaining competitive.
Another session at the Smart Tug Operations Conference will examine researching and developing future tug technology. It will cover technological challenges, system integration, the timescale towards an autonomous future and how regulations can be amended to facilitate these developments. Other highlights include:
Autonomous tugs will require hybrid and electric propulsion systems to minimise fuel consumption and maintenance. This will be addressed during a session at the Smart Tug Operations Conference and will also be the subject of another Riviera conference, Maritime Hybrid & Electric Conference, 4-5 September, in Bergen, Norway.
Presentations and panel discussions will cover hybrid and electric power for clean vessel operations, how hybrid and electric technologies are used for various types of vessels and maritime applications and how they are regulated.
Delegates will gain an understanding of how these technologies can provide significant reductions in fuel consumption, maintenance costs and emissions, learn about design and engineering considerations for hybrid and electric vessels and how auxiliary engines can be replaced with batteries.
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