The recent focus on automation within the ferry sector reflects its position as an ideal market to apply such technologies
The recent focus on automation within the ferry sector reflects its position as an ideal market to apply such technologies
The potential for applications of autonomous technology was highlighted in December 2018, when Rolls-Royce and Finferries demonstrated the capabilities of autonomous technology on board Falco, inviting 80 guests and journalists along for the ride.
Using Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence technologies, Falco sailed into the busy waters of the Turku archipelago and detected and manoeuvred autonomously around several obstacles.
On the return leg of the Parainen-Nauvo route, the ferry was operated entirely under remote control by a captain in an office building in the centre of Turku.
Falco is a 53.8-m long double-ended car ferry equipped with twin azimuthing Rolls-Royce thrusters, and has been in service with Finnish state-owned Finferries since 1993.
Finferries is a partner in developing autonomous shipping technologies produced by Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence along with Svitzer, Intel, ESA, Inmarsat, AXA, Google and Bosch. These technologies have come together in a range of sensors attached to Falco, which gave the vessel a 3D picture of its surroundings. Data from these sensors is relayed to Finferries’ remote operating centre in Turku, from which a captain can take control of the vessel if necessary.
Rolls-Royce has racked up 400 hours of sea trials of its technology in the Turku archipelago, including of the autodocking system, which allows the vessel to automatically alter course and speed when approaching the quay and dock without human intervention.
During the trial, the vessel undocked itself using Rolls-Royce’s autodocking system. Using a suite of technologies under the research project Safer Vessel with Autonomous Navigation (SVAN), Falco used these systems to avoid a series of vessels in its path.
Rolls-Royce president commercial marine Mikael Mäkinen said “Today marks a huge step forward in the journey towards autonomous shipping and reaffirms exactly what we have been saying for several years, that autonomous shipping will happen. The SVAN project has been a successful collaboration between Rolls-Royce and Finferries and an ideal opportunity to showcase to the world how Ship Intelligence technology can bring great benefits in the safe and efficient operation of ships.
“This is a very proud moment for all of us and marks our most significant milestone so far. Today’s demonstration proves the autonomous ship is not just a concept, but something that will transform shipping as we know it.”
Finferries’ chief executive Mats Rosin added “We are very proud that maritime history has been made on the Parainen-Nauvo route once again. First with our world-renowned hybrid vessel Elektra and now Falco as the world’s first autonomous ferry. As a modern shipowner our main goal in this co-operation has been on increasing safety in marine traffic as this is beneficial for both the environment and our passengers. But we are also equally excited about how this demonstration opens the door to the new possibilities of autonomous shipping and safety.”
On the return trip, Falco was remotely operated by the Finferries Remote Operation Centre in the centre of Turku by Capt Tuumas Mikkola, who is qualified to sail Electra and Falco. He successfully steered Falco by remote control to the docking point, where the vessel used the automatic docking system to berth.
Speaking about the experience, Capt Mikkola said that at first the lack of winds and waves was a little strange, but after 400 km of trials, he has become used to the idea. After the trial period, he will return to sailing Electra in real life, but said “We are not trying to replace peoples’ jobs with this technology, but to make their task more pleasant. For me, it’s been nice to go home at 5 o’clock like everyone else.”
Tallink Grupp to participate in ESA-funded autonomous navigation project
Megastar will be used for practical field tests on the Helsinki-Tallinn route (credit: AS Tallink Grupp)
Tallink Grupp, the Tallinn-based operator of mini-cruise and ferry services in the northern Baltic, is to take part in a European Space Agency (ESA)-funded project to develop autonomous vessel navigation techniques.
Aalto University, the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute, Fleetrange and Tallink aim to use different types of sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop the new techniques, with an emphasis on safety.
The Finnish Geospatial Research Institute’s research manager Dr Sarang Thombre said “A single sensor is never sufficient for providing complete safety-critical information to the crew.
“They always refer to multiple devices providing overlapping information so that defects in any one device can be easily identified and excluded.
“An autonomous navigation system should work on a similar principle.”
The research project, titled Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Sensor Fusion for Autonomous Vessel Navigation, will see Tallink Grupp’s newest vessel Megastar used for practical field tests on the Helsinki-Tallinn route on the Baltic Sea.
Data from a range of sources including satellite navigation, vessel transponders and sensors installed on Tallink’s Megastar ferry – including visual, audio, radar and LiDAR – will be processed using AI and machine-learning software, with a goal of automatically identifying objects such as navigation aids and other vessels to improve situational awareness.
“When such information is combined with established vessel navigation rules and regulations, it can potentially enable the vessel to navigate with minimal human guidance even in dense traffic conditions of the Baltic Sea,” said Dr Thombre.
Stena Line integrates asset monitoring and launches fuel-consumption AI project
Stena Line is piloting AI technology on Stena Scandinavica (credit: Stena Line)
Elsewhere, Stena Line has entered into a partnership to provide asset monitoring services with Caterpillar Marine and Netherlands-based Pon Power, a distributor of Caterpillar engines and generators in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Multiple newbuild Stena vessels planned for delivery during 2019 and 2020 from AVIC Shipyard in China will integrate Caterpillar’s Cat Asset Intelligence product, and Caterpillar will also provide Stena with dedicated fleet advisor services.
Stena Line’s technical operations director Bjarne Koitrand said “We are excited to be working together with Caterpillar and Pon Power to better use the data on board our new vessels to make better operational and maintenance decisions and reduce our operating costs while increasing our reliability.”
“This will allow us to further move from time- or hours-based maintenance to condition-based maintenance,” he added.
Caterpillar announced in October 2018 that a new version of the Asset Intelligence System, 5.0, would be released in Q1 2019. Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence business development manager David Shannon spoke to PST about the update.
Built around six pillars that make it compliant with ISO 13374’s standards for condition monitoring – data acquisition, data manipulation, state detection, health assessment, prognostic assessment and advisory generation – AI 5.0 seeks to combine scalability and flexibility. While Caterpillar develops core models based on analytics, users will be able to tweak these to better suit their applications. Mr Shannon gave the example of a user whose vessels operate in ambient water temperatures warmer than those used to create the model. This could result in false positive warnings, but with AI 5.0 the user can amend the model to factor this in. It is also an agnostic system, compatible with equipment from OEMs other than Caterpillar, and with potential applications across sectors.
AI 5.0 improves on its predecessor, AI 4.8, in two obvious ways: it allows customers to make their own edits to information screens advising courses of action based on the data being processed; and users can make edits to the model itself. AI 5.0 moves from the concept of ‘how it works’ to ‘what it does’, said Mr Shannon, noting there exists a history in condition monitoring of concentrating on how modelling functions work, rather than actually explaining to users what capabilities they bring. AI 5.0 will attempt to change this with a superior user interface and customised analytics, which can be tailored according to an organisation’s operational parameters.
Using the ’Return On Intelligence’ concept, Caterpillar sees AI 5.0 performing the functions of multiple data scientists to provide users with clear, actionable information that brings together data from a range of sources in a single platform, allowing for a more holistic understanding of how equipment is performing.
Stena Line has launched a pilot study where artificial intelligence technology (AI) is implemented on board vessels as part of its effort to reduce fuel consumption and minimise environmental impact.
In close collaboration with technology company Hitachi, an AI model is being developed that will help predict the most fuel-efficient way to operate a certain vessel on a specific route. The model will support the captain and officers on board and if successful, will make an important contribution to Stena Line’s sustainability target to reduce fuel consumption by 2.5% annually.
“The model simulates many different scenarios before suggesting the most optimal route and performance setup. With the help of AI we are able to consider a number of variables, such as currents, weather conditions, shallow water and speed through water, in various combinations which would be impossible to do manually”, said Stena Line head of AI Lars Carlsson.
The model is still under development, with the first pilot study taking place on Stena Scandinavica, supervised by senior master Jan Sjöström who has been working with fuel optimisation at Stena Line for the last 40 years.
“…We’ve been making adjustments to the model after each trip for about four weeks and it is amazing to see how quickly it is learning”, said Mr Sjöström.
The goal is to create a model that is “so precise that it would be the ultimate decision support system for the captain when planning each trip”, explained a statement. Moving forward, the model will also help share competence and knowledge to the next generation of captains and officers.
“Planning a trip and handling a vessel in a safe and, at the same time, fuel-efficient way is craftsmanship. Practice makes perfect, but when assisted by AI a new captain or officer could learn how to fuel optimise quicker. In return, this contributes to a more sustainable journey”, said Mr Sjöström.
Stena Line aims for the whole company to be assisted by AI in 2021 and the pilot study on Stena Scandinavica, on the Gothenburg–Kiel route, is the first of several studies regarding AI-assisted ferry trips within the fleet this year. At the end of the year there will be an evaluation of the project, before deciding how to continue with AI-assistance on the company’s 38 ships.
“…By taking a co-creation approach, working together to combine industry expertise with data and AI, Hitachi and Stena Line have been able to show how digitalisation can optimise existing physical assets to create a better outcome”, said Hitachi Europe chief digital officer Ram Ramachander.
Stena Line is already being assisted by AI within several areas such as administration, finance, customer experience and customer care.
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