Remote operation of onboard machinery offers an array of advantages. Research project ROMAS is exploring the idea of moving the engine control room from the ship to a shore-based centre, while ensuring a similar or even better safety level. Tests have already been carried out with Norwegian ferry the Fannefjord.
The research project is being carried out by classification society DNV GL, automation systems vendor Høglund, Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1, and the Norwegian Maritime Authority. ROMAS stands for Remote Operation of Machinery and Automation Systems and focuses on moving the engine control room (ECR) from the ship to a shore-based engine control centre (ECC). With ship systems becoming more complex and competent crew willing to work on board becoming harder to find, an ECC may be just the answer.
Testing Campaign
Activities carried out in the project in 2017 and 2018 included identifying business and user requirements, mapping relevant rules, regulations and risk considerations, and performing data analysis. For the test campaign, the ECC was established at Fjord1’s office in Molde. The aim of the testing is to gather data and experience that can be used to validate assumptions and give input to rule development in order to ensure safe commercial deployment of the concept in the future.
Fannefjord
The campaign was carried out with one of Fjord1’s ferries, the Fannefjord. Built in 2010, the vessel is a highly redundant LNG/battery/diesel-powered ro-ro ferry operating on the 35-minute crossing between Molde and Vestnes. While the ROMAS concept may be applied to longer-range voyages in the future, shorter crossings employing modern vessels offer a more suitable operational profile for testing and verification of the concept.
Augmented Reality and Remaining Work
Various test scenarios have been introduced during the first pilot period, including functionality and procedures related to loss of communication. Smart glasses using augmented reality (AR) were also tested for remote troubleshooting. Remaining work in the project will focus on documenting pilot experiences, rule development and dissemination activities.
Towards Autonomous Vessels
New approaches to design and operations, combined with increased redundancy and more advanced maintenance, mean that the concept could conceivably be operated with no machinery engineers onboard at all. Therefore, an ECC is an essential step toward a fully autonomous or highly automated vessel. In an ECC, one or more chief engineers can remotely operate the propulsion and auxiliary machinery systems on a whole fleet of vessels.
Picture: The ROMAS project was carried out with one of Fjord1’s ferries, the Fannefjord (by Peter Fiskerstrand).
