A cross-border consortium of nine partners is launching the innovative Ferry Go! project, aimed at developing autonomous ferries in the German-Dutch Wadden Sea. This pioneering project, with a three-year duration and a total budget of around EUR 3.7 million, is being implemented within the Interreg VI A programme Germany-Netherlands.
The project will receive EUR 1.96 million in co-financing from the European Union, the MB Niedersachsen, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, and the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.
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Towards autonomous ferries
Ferry traffic in the Dutch and German Wadden Sea has a rich tradition, but faces significant challenges. Due to a shortage of adequately trained personnel over time, higher requirements for efficient operation, the need for reduced energy consumption and emissions combined with increased safety, innovation is crucial. Intelligent systems for (partially) autonomous sailing can help overcome these challenges.
The Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a special cruising area with specific requirements due to its partially shallow and tidal waters. Navigation here is challenging, even for experienced sailors. The aim of Ferry Go! is to develop a system for autonomous ferries that can simulate largely unmanned ship operations, with human interaction only in emergencies. Real test results will provide insight into the technological, nautical, shipbuilding, safety, legal and acceptance requirements for autonomous ferries.
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Consortium partners
Ferry Go! is made possible by the cooperation of a cross-border consortium and funding from several European and regional partners. The project investigates and tests the prospects and requirements for (partially) autonomous ferries on both sides of the border.
Involved in the project are:
- MARIKO gemeinnützige GmbH (Leer), the lead partner of the project, is an institution promoting innovation and knowledge transfer for the maritime industry. For Ferrgy Go!, it is responsible for overall project management, project communication, and the integration and transfer of project results.
- FME Regio Noord (Groningen) is the umbrella association of companies in the technology industry in the Netherlands and promotes the development of innovations, in northern region but also particularly in the maritime sector. In the Ferry Go! project, FME provides technical support and is primarily responsible for communication and transfer on the Dutch side.
- Rederij Doeksen (Harlingen) operates eight passenger and one freight ferries in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Doeksen provides access to a ferry for the Harlingen-Terschelling route by arrangement and provides data, sailing profiles and knowledge of the sailing area in the Dutch Wadden Sea.
- AG Reederei Norden-Frisia (Norddeich) operates fourteen RoRo passenger and freight ferries in the Wadden Sea in Lower Saxony. Norden-Frisia supplies a cargo ferry for the Norddeich-Norderney route and provides data, sailing profiles and knowledge of the sailing area in the German Wadden Sea.
- The DLR Institute “Systems Engineering for Future Mobility” (Oldenburg) is a research institute that already has experience with autonomous ships.
- Kroes Marine Projects (Joure) is an engineering company for innovative shipbuilding. In the Ferry Go! project, Kroes is working on the development and requirements of autonomous ferries for ship design and engineering.
- YP Your Partner BV (Drachten) is an IT company dealing with digital networks, complex installations and data-based systems. In the Ferry Go! project, YP is responsible for everything to do with data processing and transfer.
- Abeking & Rasmussen Schiffs- und Yachtwerft SE (Lemwerder) builds innovative yachts, naval vessels and special ships. In the Ferry Go! project, A&R deals with aspects of ship design and peripherals related to autonomous systems.
- Kaiko Systems GmbH (Berlin) is a company specialising in using advanced AI technology to develop systems specifically tailored to ship operations to make shipping safer, smarter and more efficient.
Ferry Go! promises to be a pioneering step in shipping, with the potential to make ferry traffic in the Wadden Sea more efficient, safe and sustainable. This project marks a major advance in the application of autonomous technologies within shipping and opens up new possibilities for the future.
Photo: Willem Barentsz, ferry of Rederij Doeksen, Wadden Sea near Griend (by Elpescador.nl, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International).
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