EUR20m funding for autonomous-ship project

The four-year AUTOSHIP project will see Kongsberg Group install and test autonomous technology on two vessels in different operational environments, with a view for particular use in short sea coastal shipping and Europe’s inland waterways. The research has been made possible by the funding from EU research programme, Horizon 2020.

Egil Haugsdal, CEO of Kongsberg Maritime, said the project “will accelerate the realisation of next-generation autonomous ships and create a roadmap for commercialising autonomous shipping in the EU in the next five years”.

The project is a collaboration between Kongsberg and Norwegian research organisation SINTEF, as well as several European partners.

The aim of the project is to test and further develop key technology linked to fully autonomous navigation systems, intelligent machinery systems, self-diagnostics, prognostics and operation scheduling, as well as communication technology enabling a prominent level of cyber security and integrating the vessels into upgraded e-infrastructure.

The Eidsvaag shipping company-owned Eidsvaag Pioneer is one of two vessels that will be equipped for remote-operated and autonomous maritime transport.

The vessel operates along the Norwegian coast and in vulnerable fjord areas where it carries fish feed to fish-farms.

Also due to be tested is a Blue Line Logistics-owned Belgian pallet shuttle barge. This operates on canals in Europe, transporting goods to and from large container ports.

An autonomous barge is expected to take around 7,500 trucks off the roads each year, reducing congestion and emissions.

By Rebecca Jeffrey