Accident investigators highlight challenges with e-navigation devices, while milestones are passed on remote and autonomous technologies
Autonomous and remote-control technology is being successfully tested on tugs as masters improve navigation due to technological advances.
However, there are safety issues to consider with existing bridge systems before the global towage industry can implement these innovative technologies.
Some of the latest achievements have been in Singapore, where a consortium of ABB, Keppel Offshore & Marine (O&M) and Keppel Smit Towage will further test remote control and autonomous operations on a harbour tug.
They successfully controlled tug Maju 510 remotely from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority’s Maritime Innovation Lab in Q2 2021. In the second phase of this project, scheduled for Q4 2021, they will monitor the 2011-built, 32-m, Singapore-flag tug as it performs autonomous collision avoidance tasks while under remote supervision.
For the first phase, ABB provided its Ability Marine Pilot for tug remote control using information from onboard systems to generate digital situational awareness on the tug and at the command centre.
Singapore has become a hub for autonomous vessel and remote-control pilot projects, with PSA Marine teaming up with Wärtsilä in Singapore for autonomous navigation trials. PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH) also pushed the autonomous technology boundaries for harbour tugs, successfully trialling autonomous navigation and artificial intelligence innovations on ship-handling tug POSH Harvest in partnership with ST Engineering in 2020.
In the US, Sea Machines Robotics supplied its remote command technology to articulated tug-barge units and for Foss Maritime’s latest escort tug newbuilding. Nichols Brothers Boat Builders delivered Rachael Allen with an SM300 autonomous unit, enabling transit autonomy and remote access of the tug’s onboard machinery. It allows personnel to manage and support operations from anywhere on board the vessel or from shore.
In another project, Foss and Sea Machines Robotics will work together to create an autonomous supply station for the worldwide deployment of goods and materials to US military forces.
They secured a US$3.1M contract from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to produce full-scale oceangoing military replenishment platforms operating autonomously, with the technology demonstrated this year in a pilot project on an autonomous and self-propelled barge.
In phase two, Sea Machines will provide SM300 autonomous command and control systems for a full-scale oceangoing replenishment platform and Foss will provide engineering and operations management to design and trial a ready-to-deploy barge that would facilitate landing and refuelling military aircraft, replenishing surface ships and other forces.
In the UK, Zelim intends to deploy remotely operated search and rescue vessels based at offshore windfarm installations for emergency response. These freefall rescue vessels would be deployed from a substation, the transition piece on a wind turbine or launched from a service operation vessel. Once launched, it would transit to the recovery location and use a sensor package to locate the person in the water.
In Germany, propulsion developer Voith is working with education and training institutions to demonstrate the potential of remote-controlled tugs. This consortium includes Hamburg University of Technology, Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services, the Federal Office for Hydraulic Engineering, winch and crane manufacturer MacGregor, Marine Training Center Hamburg and communication specialists MediaMobil.
This Ferngesteuerte Schlepper bei An- und Ablegemanövern großer Schiffe (FernSAMS) project aims to determine the efficacy of using remote-controlled tugs to berth large ships. The overall objective is to improve tug operations safety and efficiency, and to find new ways to enhance competitiveness.
Voith vice president research and development and project manager for FernSAMS Dr Dirk Jürgens says the project will examine the potential for standardised, automated tugboats to significantly reduce costs for shipping companies and port operators.
Using remote-controlled rather than manned tugs will reduce construction and operating costs, the consortium believes. With tugs under remote control, there would be no need for accommodation or sanitary facilities for the crew, noise insulation and even the bridge of vessel could also be eliminated from tug design and construction.
“Reducing the weight of these floating powerhouses will make them more manoeuvrable and reduce fuel consumption,” says Dr Jürgens. “The concept also opens up options for the design of remote-controlled vessels – for example, there is no longer a need to provide a deck house to accommodate towing gear.”
Another objective of the FernSAMS project is to significantly improve safety by removing human intervention for towing line operations and ship manoeuvres.
In the Netherlands, Kotug International passed a new milestone in autonomous vessel navigation in September 2020 with a successful demonstration using a training harbour tug. It tested smart navigation on RT Borkum in Rotterdam, making this the first vessel in the world to autonomously sail the most optimal route in a port setting.
Autonomous and remote-control technology is being successfully tested on tugs as masters improve navigation due to technological advances.
However, there are safety issues to consider with existing bridge systems before the global towage industry can implement these innovative technologies.
Some of the latest achievements have been in Singapore, where a consortium of ABB, Keppel Offshore & Marine (O&M) and Keppel Smit Towage will further test remote control and autonomous operations on a harbour tug.
They successfully controlled tug Maju 510 remotely from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority’s Maritime Innovation Lab in Q2 2021. In the second phase of this project, scheduled for Q4 2021, they will monitor the 2011-built, 32-m, Singapore-flag tug as it performs autonomous collision avoidance tasks while under remote supervision.
For the first phase, ABB provided its Ability Marine Pilot for tug remote control using information from onboard systems to generate digital situational awareness on the tug and at the command centre.
Singapore has become a hub for autonomous vessel and remote-control pilot projects, with PSA Marine teaming up with Wärtsilä in Singapore for autonomous navigation trials. PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH) also pushed the autonomous technology boundaries for harbour tugs, successfully trialling autonomous navigation and artificial intelligence innovations on ship-handling tug POSH Harvest in partnership with ST Engineering in 2020.
In the US, Sea Machines Robotics supplied its remote command technology to articulated tug-barge units and for Foss Maritime’s latest escort tug newbuilding. Nichols Brothers Boat Builders delivered Rachael Allen with an SM300 autonomous unit, enabling transit autonomy and remote access of the tug’s onboard machinery. It allows personnel to manage and support operations from anywhere on board the vessel or from shore.
In another project, Foss and Sea Machines Robotics will work together to create an autonomous supply station for the worldwide deployment of goods and materials to US military forces.
They secured a US$3.1M contract from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to produce full-scale oceangoing military replenishment platforms operating autonomously, with the technology demonstrated this year in a pilot project on an autonomous and self-propelled barge.
In phase two, Sea Machines will provide SM300 autonomous command and control systems for a full-scale oceangoing replenishment platform and Foss will provide engineering and operations management to design and trial a ready-to-deploy barge that would facilitate landing and refuelling military aircraft, replenishing surface ships and other forces.
In the UK, Zelim intends to deploy remotely operated search and rescue vessels based at offshore windfarm installations for emergency response. These freefall rescue vessels would be deployed from a substation, the transition piece on a wind turbine or launched from a service operation vessel. Once launched, it would transit to the recovery location and use a sensor package to locate the person in the water.
In Germany, propulsion developer Voith is working with education and training institutions to demonstrate the potential of remote-controlled tugs. This consortium includes Hamburg University of Technology, Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services, the Federal Office for Hydraulic Engineering, winch and crane manufacturer MacGregor, Marine Training Center Hamburg and communication specialists MediaMobil.
This Ferngesteuerte Schlepper bei An- und Ablegemanövern großer Schiffe (FernSAMS) project aims to determine the efficacy of using remote-controlled tugs to berth large ships. The overall objective is to improve tug operations safety and efficiency, and to find new ways to enhance competitiveness.
Voith vice president research and development and project manager for FernSAMS Dr Dirk Jürgens says the project will examine the potential for standardised, automated tugboats to significantly reduce costs for shipping companies and port operators.
Using remote-controlled rather than manned tugs will reduce construction and operating costs, the consortium believes. With tugs under remote control, there would be no need for accommodation or sanitary facilities for the crew, noise insulation and even the bridge of vessel could also be eliminated from tug design and construction.
“Reducing the weight of these floating powerhouses will make them more manoeuvrable and reduce fuel consumption,” says Dr Jürgens. “The concept also opens up options for the design of remote-controlled vessels – for example, there is no longer a need to provide a deck house to accommodate towing gear.”
Another objective of the FernSAMS project is to significantly improve safety by removing human intervention for towing line operations and ship manoeuvres.
In the Netherlands, Kotug International passed a new milestone in autonomous vessel navigation in September 2020 with a successful demonstration using a training harbour tug. It tested smart navigation on RT Borkum in Rotterdam, making this the first vessel in the world to autonomously sail the most optimal route in a port setting.
Riviera Maritime Media will be hosting TUGTECHNOLOGY 2021 in London, UK during 25-26 October 2021 - use this link to access more information and register to attend or exhibit at the event
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.