TAKING SMALL STEPS TOWARDS AN AUTONOMOUS FUTURE

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While autonomy developments are currently focused on smaller vessels, a number of projects are investigating potential applicability for larger vessels.

MV American Courage (pictured) is the largest ship ever capable of performing automated docking and dock-to-dock sailing operations.

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The maritime industry has been waiting with bated breath in some respects to developments around autonomy and the autonomous vessel. With the announcement of the Yara Birkland that was under construction and was to be piloting autonomous systems, the industry was poised – could it actual pip other industries to the post with this. However, the early excitement may have been precipitous, as the Yara Birkland is unlikely to operate fully autonomously when it enters service.

But that still has not stopped the industry in working to what is now seen as the inevitable goal of autonomy. While immediate commercial benefits from the research aren’t obvious, autonomy does hold value for the industry. Understanding that value and maximising its potential will be key if we are to harness the power of autonomy.

As Peter Kraehenbuhl, Head of Digital Transformation, WinGD explains about automation: “it’s everything and nothing.” It’s about incorporating it into the business model and looking at “what to do with it and the added value that it brings.”

Currently there is a lot in the market in the area of diagnostic systems. Those systems come with a lot of data, Kraehenbuhl notes that its structuring all the data and the data collection and then utilising that data.

In the future of autonomy with being able to harness the data it will be possible to look at the development of engines that can self-calibrate. At the moment though, he notes that the industry is still at the preliminary stages with more simple solutions that are being adopted.

Pierre Sames, Senior Vice President, Group Research and Development Director at DNV also comments about the recent developments in the market: “what we observe is more software-controlled systems onboard. Shipowners may not be aware of all the complexities. When there is more software onboard, then it will become even more complex.”

This also raises the question of safety and being able to operate these systems in a safe and secure way. DNV has published a white paper looking at autonomy and the safety issues. Sames notes that the paper highlights how traditional methods of operating may not be good enough anymore and a need to understand systems better.

Current developments in autonomy has seen mainly smaller vessel being trialled for systems onboard. Wartsila is also seeing more inland vessel developments with regards to autonomy. Currently it is working on an e-barge concept for the Port of Rotterdam.

“We believe that overland transport modes will not be able to absorb the emerging capacity bottleneck for internal container movement. Our ambition is to see these container shuttles introduced into a smart logistics network within the next few years.” says Hendrik Busshoff, Business Development Engineer at Wartsila Voyage.

It is also working on developing an autonomous, zero-emission barge for the Port of Rotterdam named Project Magpie. The installation for the autonomous barge will include several of the latest Wartsila solutions, including SmartMove Suite, which provides a unique pairing of sensor tech with navigation systems for safe, automated ship movement.

Wartsila are also seeing the retrofit market as a place where autonomy can also make a difference. Earlier this year, American Steamship Company’s vessel became the largest (and probably the oldest) vessel to perform automated dock-to-dock operations. Currently, there is a massive pre-existing global fleet of over 100,000 ships with an average age of 21.7 years.

Wartsila sees a huge opportunity update these existing vessels with next-generation capabilities to improve safety, efficiency, and productivity on the water.

“We’re not trying to make all the ships fully autonomous tomorrow, but we can retrofit systems that bring new possibilities moving towards less work onboard, less human error and better performance,” says Alexander Ozersky, Deputy Director, Intellectual systems integration, Wartsila Voyage.

Despite the recent spate of developments from established OEMs, much of the impetus behind the introduction of new autonomous technologies has been supplied by start-ups entering the market.

Yarden Gross, co-founder and CEO, Orca AI comments that: “It’s great to be creating innovation in the market. It’s a collaborative effort between start-ups and existing companies.”

He notes that over the last year has seen an exponential growth of companies now taking up digital solutions. “There is a major shift going on. The maritime industry is very conservative but ships are now becoming more connected.”

The Orca AI solution provides intelligent navigation helping to prevent collisions and saving lives. It is aimed at helping to give the captain and crew a better awareness of their environment through real-time data which is further support with AI.

Whilst some issues with VSAT technology remain, Gross notes he expects further developments in the area of broadband to simplify the process of data sharing in the future, making it more accessible.

The value of autonomy

Quantifying the financial benefits of new technology is a challenge, particularly when the new products are intangible. However, shipowners and operators are increasingly recognising the cost saving potential offered by optimising operations.

Andre Lazzaro, General Manager Business Development, WinGD explains that demonstrating the benefits of advances remains a process of education for customers. “To make it as easy as possible. Start with a vision and well in advance. They can plan for parts well in advance for maintenance and guide the customer how to use the systems for this”, he explains. Gross concurred, describing technology as a value-enabler. Better data allows shipowners to base their decisions upon more information.

Gross highlights a recent project that Orca AI has been working on with North P&I and Petrotec. By enabling full access to the data both companies have been able to benefit further.

Timeline to autonomy

As and when we will see full autonomy is still unclear, with rough estimates pencilled for 10 years’ time. Much depends
upon how the technology matures and the pace of adoption.

However, the development of autonomous systems is already have an effect on the market, as technology spin offs are already leading to commercial solutions in areas such as automated docking, where Kongsberg Maritime and Wartsila Voyage have launched solutions, as well as predictive maintenance.

Kraehenbuhl highlights that development of autonomy will start with an autonomous engine to support an autonomous ship. “We expect to roll out first things by 2025, but autonomy will happen in stages.” He also opines that optimisation of costs will drive the adoption of technology and “it will be taken up a lot quicker as of the cost factor.”

A key aspect in adoption of autonomous solutions is the value of the data and the transparency that it brings. Whilst the maritime industry is a conservative industry that doesn’t like to share its details with others there is big opportunities for those seeking to maximise on this new technology.

Sames also notes that the development of IT & automation will evolve around a company’s IT culture, how cutting edge they are and how they integrate autonomy into its solutions. He also adds that: “there is a lot of hype around ship autonomy. Boats will lead the way”, noting the Zeabuz project, “Zeabuz have developed a small autonomous ferry for city transport and are also looking at an autonomous container feeder.”

The industry is also seeing more pilot projects for autonomy starting up that are also looking at trialling new fuels, such as the Ocean Infinity project. However, with the ongoing developments there has also been failures and setbacks. Sames notes that one of the key challenges that the maritime industry will need to conquer in order to see a fully autonomous is vessel is that of navigation. “How as a Class Society can we assure navigation use on a ship. It is a novel time for sensors and software.”