Article

MOL and Partners Set World Records for Time and Distance in Autonomous Navigation with Sea Trial Using Large Commercial Car Ferry


published on 8 February 2022 197 -

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., together with its two group companies and the following consortium partners, today announced the completion of a successful sea trial of autonomous sailing using a large commercial coastal car ferry, in a voyage from the Tomakomai Port, Hokkaido Prefecture to the Oarai Port, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The test followed the actual commercial route of the ferry Sunflower Shiretoko, covering a distance of about 750km, the world's longest distance for autonomous sailing, in about 18 hours, also a world record.

The significance about this test is the confirmation of the development elements "the Autonomous Berthing and Unberthing Technology", "the Autonomous Collision Avoidance Routing System", and "the Target Visual Image Processing and Ranging Technology" which functioned normally even during such a long voyage.

Since MEGURI2040's inception in 2020, the consortium has conducted various elemental experiments to realize autonomous sailing. As with the coastal containership which succeeded in the sea trial of autonomous sailing on January 24-25, 2022 (Note 2), the sea trial using the car ferry was carried out after verifying features such as autonomous collision avoidance using a simulator owned by MOL Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd. and element tests on a real ship.

The sea trial of the coastal car ferry followed the successful test of autonomous sailing with a coastal containership. The system used for the autonomous sailing in the tests of these two vessels is same specification, and based on the success of these demonstrations, we believe that it was suggested that autonomous sailing might be possible on any ship by installing necessary equipment.

At present, there are issues such as improving sensing technology and making collision avoidance routes even closer to the feeling of crew members and the consortium continually aims to reduce the workload on seafarers and ensure safe, secure marine traffic by integrating the knowledge gained through MEGURI2040 initiatives to realize autonomous sailing activities with AI technologies such as computer vision.

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Captain Ian Andrews Deep North Sea Pilot, United Kingdom
on 5 May 2023, 09:58 UTC

The final nail....... tens of thousands of seafarers out of work.
0

Read more...

Article British Ports Association Eyeing up Autonomous shipping possibilities

published on 26 August 2020

The British Ports Association has launched a new initiative looking at the implications of autonomous shipping for UK ports, including a call for evidence from interested parties. Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) involves the automation of vessel and onboard processes which could alter how ports and ships interface with each other. The BPA which represents the majority of UK port activity including 85% of the shipping movements in and out of the country, is keen to explore what the future developments of shipping will mean for the sector.

0

Video How seafarers are helped to pilot autonomous vessels?

published on 30 June 2021

More on the power of Simulation and Training: https://pages.wartsila.digital/simulation-and-training-yt
ISTLAB photos by SAMK / Pekka Lehmuskallio

0

Video UiT Autonomous Ship Program, including recent research activities by Lokukaluge Perera.

published on 30 June 2021

A recorded webinar on the UiT Autonomous Ship Program, including recent research activities by Lokukaluge Prasad Perera. The presentation can be downloaded from : https://www.slideshare.net/LokukalugePrasadPere/uit-autonomous-ship-program-including-recent-research-activities

0

Article Best practice on rigging pilot ladders (UK MAIB)

published on 7 July 2022

On the occasion of the Maritime Safety Week (July 4-10), UK MAIB’s inspector Bill Evans refers to the issue of unsafe pilot ladders, a concern that has been regularly voiced by the industry.

2

Video Maryland bans cellphone use by cargo ship pilots

published on 9 January 2023

State regulators on Friday banned cargo ship pilots from using personal cellphones on Maryland waters. The Maryland Board of Pilots, which oversees cargo ship pilots, approved a rule change 10 months after, and in direct response to, the Ever Forward's weekslong grounding in the Chesapeake Bay. Instead of leading the team on the bridge of the Ever Forward, the pilot was on his phone for an hour, texting, sending emails and taking screenshots before running aground and getting stuck for 45...

1

Video Global ship traffic seen from space - FleetMon Satellite AIS and FleetMon Explorer

published on 2 October 2019

A week of ship traffic on the seven seas, seen from space. Get a glimpse of the vibrant lanes of goods transport that link the continents.
The vessel movements were captured using newest terrestrial and space-borne AIS technology from FleetMon and its partner Luxspace. The records cover the world's merchant fleet with some 100.000s of cargo ships, tankers, ferries, cruise ships, yachts and tugs. FleetMon provides advanced fleet monitoring services, software APIs, reports and analyses of...

0

Article IMPA Congress postponed to May 2021

published on 10 August 2020

As a result of the extraordinary situation resulting from the global Covid-19 outbreak and, in particular, the various public health measures and travel restrictions implemented by many jurisdictions around the world to fight propagation of the virus, IMPA has decided to postpone its biennial Congress in Cancun to 23 to 29 Mayr 2021.

0

Video MV Arvin 17.01.21 - Moment of breaking of the ship

published on 7 February 2021

On 17.01.2021, at 12:35 pm, the research conducted by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure based on the distress signal received from the Satellite Assisted Search and Rescue System (Cospas-Sarsat system), it was found that the Palau flagged Arvin ship was sunk, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center Search and rescue elements were immediately dispatched to the region. Due to adverse weather conditions, the ship anchored in the...

0

Video Pilot disembarking M/V Sea Hope, San Francisco

published on 11 October 2021

Please do not wear a backpack that prevents the lifejacket from inflating! There are only a few Life Jackets that inflate correctly even with a backpack. Think of your safety! Often you are your own worst enemy...

0

Video Ghana's first female Marine Pilot

published on 19 October 2022

TV3'S JOSEPHINE FREMPONG tells the story of ghana first female marine pilot flying high the flag of Ghana.
the FIRST FEMALE PILOT to brave all odds and beat the men to it.

0