E-navigation

Abu Dhabi to develop world’s first autonomous tugboats

Abu Dhabi Ports along with the vessel engineer Robert Allan Ltd., shake their hands in order to develop the world’s first fully unmanned autonomous commercial marine tugboats. Specifically, the tugs are expected to join SAFEEN, Abu Dhabi Ports’ service arm, once completed.

Through their development, both sides will focus on the tugboats design in order to achieve greater capability and allow vessels operate under adverse weather conditions. In fact, their new technology goals to boost efficiency...

https://safety4sea.com/abu-dhabi-to-develop-worlds-first-autonomous-tugboats/

Sea trials commence for Mayflower Autonomous Ship’s ‘AI Captain’

IBM and Promare, marine research organization, announced that the new “AI Captain”, which will be used by the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) to self-navigate across the Atlantic, is going to be trialled in sea this month.

The trial will be conducted in March, on a manned research vessel off the coast of Plymouth in the UK, and the partners will understand how the system uses cameras, AIS and edge computing systems to safely navigate around ships, buoys and other ocean hazards that it is...

https://safety4sea.com/sea-trials-commence-for-mayflower-autonomous-ships-ai-captain/

Arctic University of Norway receives workboat for Autonomous Ships Navigation research

UiT, the Arctic University of Norway received a new ProZero Workboat for its Autonomous Ships Navigation research program. The boat is outfitted and utilized as a fast and flexible multi mission workboat.

The boat has been built to the desired specifications of UIT and is taken over by the University after full sea trials at the ProZero building yard, Tuco Marine in Denmark.

The boat is designed and optimized to serve as a multi-functional workboat. However, it is set-up specifically for the...

https://safety4sea.com/arctic-university-of-norway-receives-workboat-for-autonomous-ships-navigation-research/

Mariners ‘fairly pragmatic’ about automation, survey finds

In line with an increased focus on automation across shipping, The Nautical Institute has conducted a survey seeking to understand seafarers’ current thoughts on the introduction of automation. The responses revealed mariners were fairly pragmatic about the inevitable increase of technology onboard.

They can see scope for improvement but are also guarded about the potential risks. Many praised technology for the improvements it has brought, such as automatic positioning systems (ECDIS) making...

https://safety4sea.com/mariners-fairly-pragmatic-about-automation-survey-finds/

Fincantieri, Marakeb join forces on autonomous technology

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and UAE-based autonomous technology provider Marakeb Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to explore global collaboration opportunities in the field of autonomous technology.

The agreement was signed by Basel Shuhaiber, Chief Executive Officer of Marakeb Technologies, and Giuseppe Giordo, General Manager of Fincantieri Naval Business, on the sidelines of the 2020 Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Under the agreement, the...

https://safety4sea.com/fincantieri-marakeb-join-forces-on-autonomous-technology/

Norway’s MF Bastø VI conducts first fully automatic journey

MF Bastø VI recently conducted its first fully automatic journey between Horten and Moss while having passengers onboard, having installed a system which ensures that the ferry has optimized fuel consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased regularity and safety in their arrivals and departures.

The project was under the development stages for two years, with Bastø Fosen, Kongsberg Maritime and the Norwegian Maritime Directorate as involved parties.

The ferry docked from the quay,...

https://safety4sea.com/norways-mf-basto-vi-conducts-first-fully-automatic-journey/

Port of London acquires new remote monitoring deal

The Port of London Authority (PLA) inked a deal with Reygar Ltd, to expand the BareFLEET remote monitoring system across PLA’s varied fleet of multi-cat, crewboat, and survey vessels improving emissions’ reduction.

Specifically, the monitoring system enables the team of PLA to understand fuel consumption, engine efficiency, and CO2 emissions across their varied fleet of workboats, additional to improving the Authority’s maintenance strategy

Chris Huxley-Reynard, engineering director, Reygar,...

https://safety4sea.com/port-of-london-acquires-new-remote-monitoring-deal/

MarineFields Holding Ltd receives the SMART4SEA e-Navigation Award

SAFETY4SEA is pleased to announce that MarineFields Holding Ltd has received the 2020 SMART4SEA e-Navigation Award, sponsored by Latsco Marine Management Inc., at a prestigious award ceremony which successfully concluded on January the 28th at Yacht Club of Greece in Athens, the evening ahead of the 2020 SMART4SEA Forum.

MarineFields Holding Ltd received the award for its data sharing platform Perseus, which enables industry stakeholders to share time stamps and common situational awareness...

https://safety4sea.com/marinefields-holding-ltd-receives-the-smart4sea-e-navigation-award/

Practices for safer e-navigation operations

While incidents at sea continue spreading ahead, a primary cause is the failure to check properly the operation of electronic navigational aid(s), Skuld Club reported. In order to avoid such accidents, the bridge team must be fully aware of the operating principals and each equipment in use and verify the factors that may impact the accuracy of the information displayed.

Skuld Club highlighted the best practices that bridge team needs to follow, when operating radars.

Since the failure of the...

https://safety4sea.com/practices-for-safer-e-navigation-operations/

Key points of the IMO’s NCSR 7 outcome

In the 7th session of its Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 7), that took place from 15 to 24 January 2020, the IMO agreed to recognize the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) for the provision of positioning, navigation and timing services, while it finalized draft SOLAS amendments for the modernization of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

Other highlights of the sub-committee included the preparation of draft...

https://safety4sea.com/key-points-of-the-imos-ncsr-7-outcome/

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