Next level autonomy trials

The Maju 510 tug became the first vessel in the world to receive Autonomous and Remote-Control Navigation Notation from ABS following initial remote operation trials in April 2021.

These latest trials of the 32 metre harbour tug have verified the next level of autonomy, demonstrating automated situational awareness, collision avoidance and manoeuvring control provided by ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision and Marine Pilot Control.

Keppel Offshore & Marine is the project lead for the autonomous solutions on the Maju 510, which is owned and operated by Keppel Smit Towage. “I had the pleasure of being aboard Maju 510 during the collision avoidance trials and experiencing how smoothly the tug performed in autonomous mode,” said Romi Kaushal, managing director, Keppel Smit Towage.

“The vessel performed as if it was operated by an experienced tug master.”

By liberating the crew of time- and energy-consuming tasks and improving accuracy during critical manoeuvres, autonomous solutions increase safety in even the busiest of ports. The system can be both upgraded to provide higher levels of autonomy depending on local regulations and vessel requirements as well as be adapted to a variety of vessel types such as wind turbine installation vessels, cruise ships and ferries.

In an earlier successful demonstration of ABB’s autonomous technology, the ice-class passenger ferry Suomenlinna II was remotely piloted through Helsinki harbour. Like Maju 510, Suomenlinna II had been retrofitted with ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision and ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control.