HGK Shipping targets the shortage of specialist workers in inland waterway shipping by remotely operating a hazardous goods vessel. The company recently received a one-year test permit to this end in Flanders from the responsible licensing authority, De Vlaamse Waterweg nv (Flemish Waterways PLC).
The test is taking place in conjunction with possibly extending navigation times. The permit allows the vessel to be steered from a Remote Operations Centre (ROC) on the waterways east of Antwerp. Only one specially trained employee will be required on board for the third phase of this operational optimisation process instead of two skippers.
The chemicals tanker Walcheren is also the first vessel operated by HGK Shipping, which will make use of the benefits of this innovative technology in the Flemish region of Belgium to allow an optimised crew size.
Also read: HGK, Port of Rotterdam target greener Rhine corridor
Smarter use of personnel
‘Smarter use of personnel is the purpose of our efforts to introduce remote-controlled inland waterway shipping in order to address the serious shortage of specialist workers, which will become even more severe in future,’ says Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group and the CEO of HGK Shipping.
He adds: ‘The permit, which has now been issued in Flanders and makes it possible in certain types of operations to reduce the crew on board by one skipper, represents an enormously important step along this journey. The permit issued for a hazardous goods vessel within our Wijgula fleet shows that the technology thoroughly convinced the authorities in terms of safety during previous test phases.’
Also read: River cruiser completes autonomous ‘Dock2Dock’ voyage
Proven operating reliability and compliance
Vessels were already being remotely controlled from the individual ROCs during phase 2 of the test operations, which HGK Shipping is implementing in the Netherlands and Germany too. However, the skippers prescribed in personnel regulations continued to remain on board during this transitional phase. This is no longer necessary on the designated route on the Flemish waterways, as the technology of the project partner, SEAFAR, has proven its operating reliability and compliance with statutory requirements.
During phase 3, HGK Shipping only requires one skipper and one sailor instead of two skippers on board the Walcheren for the regulated, so-called “A2 navigation time” of eighteen hours. The ROC operator, who has all the necessary qualifications, remotely controls the vessel for four hours, while the sailor monitors the vessel’s operations in the wheelhouse and the skipper on board can take his rest period. Introducing this scheme requires intensive training as well as close coordination between the project partners.
Also read: HGK develops inland tanker for shipping ammonia and LCO2
Next: the Netherlands and Germany
Bauer: ‘The fact that the Walcheren in particular, a chemicals tanker, is our first vessel for phase 3, illustrates the high degree of reliability that the authorities in Flanders have attributed to this technology, even for sensitive types of cargo. Following successful phase 2 tests in the Netherlands and Germany, we’re also expecting to switch to operating vessels with optimised crew levels there too through close coordination with the responsible authorities.’
Given the tangible shortage of specialist skippers and the goal of making this job description more attractive by using innovative digital solutions, HGK Shipping is consistently pressing ahead with developing remote controls for inland waterway vessels. The vessels recently put into service already have the necessary technology; if required, this will be gradually retrofitted on older models.
Picture: The operator, who has all the necessary qualifications, uses remote controls to steer HGK Shipping’s vessel, Walcheren, at the Remote Operations Centre in the Flemish region of Belgium (photo by SEAFAR).
Also read: Shipping Technology and SEAFAR to boost semi-autonomous inland navigation
