The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed a partnership agreement with an artificial intelligence software startup to help develop autonomous navigation within the port. The Port of Rotterdam Authority says it has is not a question of if, but when autonomous navigation will be introduced. So in order to prepare for this shift, it has converted a patrol vessel into a … [Read more...]
MOL Tests AI Watch Keeping System on Ferry in Seto Inland Sea
Japanese shipping group MOL has tested an artificial intelligence (A.I.) system aimed at improving safe watch keeping on board a ferry operating in one of Japan's busiest waterways. The test of the so-called Intelligence Awareness System was conducted in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Marine using the Sunflower car and passenger ferry. The ferry, which is operated by Ferry … [Read more...]
New Report Explores Human Impact of Autonomous Ships
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) has released a report on the human impact of autonomous ships in what it describes as a major piece of research. For the report, IMarEST’s Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Special Interest Group (MASS-SIG)) sought to gauge the potential impact of self-governing ships and plot out a new course for the … [Read more...]
Shipbuilding Contract Signed for Unmanned, Zero-Emission Container Ship ‘Yara Birkeland’
The world’s first autonomous and electric container ship is one step closer to reality with a shipbuilding contract now in signed and sealed for the vessel. Norwegian technology firm Kongsberg, who is partnering with Yara on the project, announced today that Yara has signed a deal worth NOK 250 million ($25.9 million) with VARD to build the vessel with launch scheduled for … [Read more...]
WATCH: Captain Demos Remote-Controlled Tugboat from 700-Miles Away
Netherlands-based KOTUG has demonstrated what it says is the first sailing of a remotely controlled tugboat from a long-distance location. For the demonstration, the tug RT Borkum, located in Rotterdam, was controlled from the floor of the International Tug, Salvage & OSV Convention, which was taking place over 700 miles away in Marseille, France. A KOTUG captain took … [Read more...]