A unique series of autonomous operations trials were held on the North Sea on 19 and 20 March, about five nautical miles off the coast of Den Helder (NL).
SeaZip 3, a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 2610 Twin Axe (Bureau Veritas class, Netherlands flag), from SeaZip Offshore Services was outfitted with collision avoidance technology and took part in several nautical scenarios to determine how the vessel would interact with seagoing traffic.
Joint Industry Project Autonomous Shipping
The trials are part of the Joint Industry Project Autonomous Shipping, a two-year research & innovation project started in 2017 and focused on autonomous operations of seagoing vessels.
'We are proud that our consortium of seventeen partners established the first ever autonomous operations with seagoing vessels held at the North Sea,' comments Marnix Krikke, innovation director at Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT) and project leader of the Joint Industry Project.
Eleven Scenarios
Krikke: 'A total of eleven scenarios were run in which SeaZip 3 interacted with two other vessels, the Octans, a training vessel of the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, and the Guardian, an Emergency Towage Vessel operated by the Netherlands Coastguard. These scenarios are the outcome of research by Technical University of Delft, Marin and TNO. The scenarios were first tested in the Marin simulator centre in Wageningen and now, last week, in a real-life environment on the North Sea.'
Further Development Needed
By testing the scenarios on the North Sea, the partners involved were able to show the decision-making process of an autonomous system in ensuring safe sailing and avoiding collisions with other vessels. The autonomous system provided by Robosys Automation, connected to the on-board autopilot and machinery control system, safely performed the evasive manoeuvres. It was concluded that further development of autonomous systems is needed, to cope with complex marine traffic situations in a more efficient way.
Autonomous Shipping Roadmap
The demonstration provides input for an autonomous shipping roadmap that will define the lessons learned and the obstacles, technology and potential as well as the steps to be taken towards further realisation. The roadmap will guide development of technology within the Netherlands maritime industry, the knowledge institutions, the academia and the government. These include not only technical issues, but also those in the regulatory field and aspects such as risk management.
Broad Consortium
This Joint Industry Project is unique in the sense that it is supported by a broad consortium of stakeholders: shipping companies SeaZip Offshore Service, Fugro, and the Dutch Pilotage organisation, Damen Shipyards and Feadship, naval architects DEKC Maritime, technology suppliers Bosch Rexroth, Robosys Automation, knowledge institutes Marin, TNO, Technical University of Delft, classification society Bureau Veritas, maritime academies Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz – NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam Mainport Institute (STC & Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) and project coordinator Netherlands Maritime Technology. The Dutch government is represented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Defence (Defence Materiel Organisation). It is partly funded by the TKI-Maritiem allowance of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Picture: SeaZip 3 and Octans during the autonomous shipping trials on the North Sea.
