The launch of the Ferry Go! project marks an important milestone in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and (semi-)autonomous ferry traffic on the Wadden Sea. During the official kick-off on the ferry from Harlingen to Terschelling on 12 September, the future vision of AI applications for ferry traffic in this UNESCO World Heritage Site was shared.
This innovative research project, part of the Interreg VI A programme Germany-Netherlands, brings together nine partners from Germany and the Netherlands with the aim of making ferry traffic in this unique region more sustainable, safer and more efficient. The kick-off on the ferry was attended by some eighty invited guests.
Within the Ferry Go! project, AI plays a crucial role. The technology is deployed to help ships navigate based on real-time data such as weather conditions and sailing data. The test vessel Sally, owned by the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), will use data collected from two ferries in the region to simulate manoeuvres and test the ships’ autonomy. Eddy des Valle of Kaiko Systems explains that advanced sensors play a central role in this process.
Also read: New project for Wadden Sea autonomous ferries
Outlook for the Future
With a budget of around EUR 3.7 million and a duration of three years, the Ferry Go! project promises to take a major step forward in shipping technology. The project is co-financed by the EU, the MB Niedersachsen, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth and the Dutch Provinces of Groningen and Friesland.
The results of this project will not only contribute to the efficiency and safety of ferry traffic in the Wadden Sea, but also open up new opportunities for the implementation of autonomous technologies in other maritime sectors.
Also read: European semi-autonomous naval vessel project kicks off
Cooperation across borders
Ferry Go! is made possible by the cooperation of several European and regional partners, including MARIKO GmbH, Vereniging FME, and shipping companies such as Doeksen and AG Reederei Norden-Frisia. The DLR Institute, Kroes Marine Projects, YP Your Partner BV, Abeking & Rasmussen Schiffs- und Yachtwerft SE and Kaiko Systems GmbH are partners as well. This cooperation not only offers technological benefits, but also strengthens ties between Germany and the Netherlands in the joint mission to make the maritime sector more sustainable.
Picture: The official kick-off on the ferry from Harlingen to Terschelling on 12 September (photo supplied by FME).
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