A gap analysis for automated cargo handling operations with geared vessels frequenting small sized ports

With the Yara Birkeland, the world’s first autonomous cargo ship developed for commercial use, nearing regular unmanned operation, it is crucial to assess the availability and readiness of unmanned cargo handling solutions. While there are already fully automated container terminals at large international ports, the purpose of this study is to consider solutions to support autonomous ships for small sized ports with little infrastructure, typical of coastal harbors in Norway. The analysis centers on geared cargo vessels that can navigate such ports with minimal or no crew onboard, and the primary method used involved workshops and interviews with personnel from relevant industries. An important finding is the lack of skilled crane operators that are willing to follow the ship. The study concludes that it is important to address the following 3 key technological gaps: (1) the autonomous connection and release of break-bulk, (2) automatic securing and lashing of onboard cargo, and (3) shipboard cranes that can operate without an onsite crane operator.publishedVersio

Evaluation of an autonomous, short sea shipping feeder-loop service through advanced simulations

Traditionally, container-freight being shipped from central Europe to the coast of Norway has been transported either by road, or by larger containerships to central ports. For the past 3 years the AEGIS consortium has worked to develop a new, disruptive short sea shipping feeder-loop service based on mother and daughter ships [1]. The hypothesis is that introducing smaller, autonomous, battery-powered vessels into the fjords of Norway would open new business areas, provide access to remote regions, and allow shipping companies to take on cargo that could not previously be transported by water. Such a transport system has the potential of reducing cost, GHG emissions and external costs, while increasing frequency of service and the waterborne cargo volume in Europe. One of the main challenges of the mother-daughter logistic system is how transshipment affects defined key performance indicators (KPIs), especially in terms of cost. For this purpose, the SIMPACT tool [2] was developed in the H2020 projects AEGIS and AUTOSHIP. The tool allows for rapid iterations of maritime logistic systems through discrete event scheduling, and estimation of energy, fuel, emission, and cost. This paper will present results from a case-study on two different daughter ship concepts. The concepts are evaluated through cost and environmental KPIs presented in [1], in addition to external costs based on the European handbook on the external costs of transport [3]. Results from the case-studies indicate that transport systems including green daughter-vessels have the potential of being cost competitive and would lower externalities compared to the baseline truck transportation system.publishedVersio

SIMPACT - SIMulation based ship concept imPACT evaluation tool

This report contains the user manual for the SIMPACT tool (SIMulation based ship concept imPACT evaluation tool) for evaluation of novel ship concepts. The tool consists of two sub tools. The logistics analysis tool (LA tool), and the MASS analysis tool (MA tool) for cost and emission analysis. SIMPACT can be used to make an initial design of a waterborne transport system and to evaluate the logistical performance through a set of KPIs. Furthermore, SIMPACT can estimate energy consumption for ships operating in the transport system, transported cargo volumes, emissions, and costs.publishedVersio

Sensor Deployment System (SDS)

SDS har i samarbeid med Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace designet og produsert et system som ivaretar integritet til sensorer i formfaktor 100x100x100mm. Systemet kan deployeres fra en meter uten å utsette sensor for skade i tillegg til å aktivt nivellere sensor med horisontalplanet

AEGIS D2.6: Roadmap for automated waterborne transport

This publication has been provided by members of the AEGIS consortium and is intended as input to the discussions on and development of new automated and autonomous waterborne transport systems. The content of the publication has been reviewed by the AEGIS participants but does not necessarily represent the views held or expressed by any individual member of the AEGIS consortium. While the information contained in the document is believed to be accurate, AEGIS participants make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. None of AEGIS participants, their officers, employees, or agents shall be responsible, liable in negligence, or otherwise howsoever in respect of any inaccuracy or omission herein. Without derogating from the generality of the foregoing neither of AEGIS participants, their officers, employees or agents shall be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage caused by or arising from any information advice or inaccuracy or omission herein. The material in this publication can be reproduced provided that a proper reference is made to the title of this publication and to the AEGIS project (http://aegis.autonomous-ship.org/).publishedVersio