In 2000 the European Commission invited EMPA to participate in a project called Innovative Portable Pilot Assistant (IPPA), which is part of the fifth strategic study Framework Programme. The project covered the development and standardisation of a laptop Portable Pilot Unit (PPU) for the European ports. The PPU provides electronic support for captains and pilots approaching ports, showing all relevant information.

Several pilots from the project group were sent to the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies in America, where they were trained in Vessel Traffic Management and the use of American PPU on the Mississippi River and on simulators in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The pilot group subsequently drew up a package of requirements and functionality specifications for the PPU. The emphasis was on the European nature of the project. This extensive report was completed in February and presented to the European Commission, while a prototype of the PPU has been demonstrated in<$>the ports of Tromso, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Venice. The first commercial providers of PPS have now entered the market. QPS, a subsidiary of the Netherlands’ HITT, is marketing the Qastor Pilot and the Qastor Docking Master, products that will be adapted to the requirements formulated in the IPPA project.

The Scheldemonden pilot organisation has already tested the Qastor Docking Master extensively. This laptop fits into a sturdy suitcase which is taken on board the vessel and can operate in all weather conditions. The case also contains two GPS receivers/transmitters. The pilot places these outside on the bridge wings, the widest points of the ship, using strong magnets. He subsequently enters data about the ship length, width and draught into the laptop. The Qastor is activated within two minutes and operates on its batteries continuously for up to 20 hours.

The system uses very precise digitalised sea maps and once in use, the pilot can see the ship sailing on a screen with an accuracy down to a few cm. To maintain that accuracy, the Qastor uses a signal transmitted from a fixed and known point on shore. The GPS receiver measures diversions and this is sent to the receivers on board<$>the ship every two seconds. The speed is measured with an accuracy of two to three cm per second. The system allows for very accurate planning of the route and also allows the pilot to moor vessels very precisely.

The Amsterdam-IJmond pilots’ organisation will use the Qastor laptop this summer for deep draught ships in the IJ ship canal outside IJmuien and for mooring ships at Corus. A transmission beacon will be placed on the locks island. The organisation will use the new technology to improve port access, with real-time information about tide and wind allowing for an extension of the tide gap, which could translate into considerable savings. These trials are in anticipation of the PPU being developed in line with the IPPA requirements. It is possible that the PPU could be linked to the Ships Timeframe Allocation Amsterdam (STAA) of the Amsterdam<$>Port Authority. STAA is a key allocation system for the lock passage in Ijmuiden to avoid congestion. The combination of PPU and lock management has proven capable of generating considerable time savings in Panama and on the Canadian lakes.

MJ Information No: 18381