Keppel O&M completes autonomous tug

Retrofitted to be capable of autonomous vessel navigation as well as collision detection and avoidance, the 32-metre Maju 510 was built in 2011 and is owned and operated by Keppel Smit Towage.

It is the first vessel in the world to receive the Autonomous Notation from ABS and was the first vessel in the world to receive the ABS Remote Control Navigation Notation in October 2021.

It is also the first in South Asia that can be remotely operated by joystick control, even for complex manoeuvres, and the first vessel to receive the Smart (Autonomous) Notation under the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). This certifies the tug’s ability to perform autonomous and remote control navigation in a controlled environment with seafarers on board.

As the systems integrator for the autonomous solutions, Keppel O&M, through its technology arm, Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech), set up the shore command centre and upgraded the 65-ton bollard pull Maju 510 by retrofitting advanced systems to generate digital situational awareness and high accuracy positioning and manoeuvring.

The Maju 510 was outfitted by Keppel O&M with technologies such as ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Vision and Marine Pilot Control, which use artificial intelligence to automate navigational observations, fusion of data from different sources, risk assessment, decision making and vessel control. The tug was also outfitted with various technologies that KMDTech developed in partnership with MPA and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore, such as a digital twin to simulates vessel behaviour.

The remote control feature leverages the ultra-low latency 4.5G network connectivity of M1, another member of the Keppel Group, to establish latency and reliability standards and data transfer links for the ship to shore communication and to support mission-critical Internet-of-Things maritime applications.

Following the completion of the autonomous tug, Keppel O&M and Keppel Smit Towage aim to collaborate with MPA Singapore to test varying degrees of autonomous operations, including interaction and collaborative operations among autonomous vessels, tests in live traffic, remotely supervised autonomous operation with improved port connectivity, and pushing and towing operations. During the sea trial witnessed by MPA, the tug demonstrated autonomous CDCA capabilities with two dynamic objects with varying speeds and headings.

Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “With in-depth engineering expertise and extensive retrofitting experience, Keppel O&M is able to customise autonomous solutions for a range of vessels. This includes digitalising onboard systems and processes, modifying the vessel, as well as integrating best-in-class technologies and enhanced systems connectivity. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with MPA and industry partners to raise the bar for maritime operations.”

Romi Kaushal, Managing Director of Keppel Smit Towage, said, “Autonomous and remote operations enhance the efficiency and safety of tug operations by adding value with additional traffic and situational operational information. This allows the tug captain and crew to focus on the more crucial tasks of safe tugging operations. We look forward to working with MPA and Keppel O&M to test and deploy more of the tug’s autonomous capabilities.”