Sea Machines equips Foss autonomous tug

Rachael Allen is fourth in a series of ASD-90 tugs from Nichols Brothers Boat Builders now in service with Foss in California and is the first US-flag harbour tug to integrate autonomous systems in real-world commercial operations. This US-based item of news is of interest in the wider world with Sea Machines explaining some of the rationale behind developments in the world of autonomous tugs, an area gathering pace but some asking what it is and why do we need it.

Repetitive and tedious tasks are being streamlined by autonomous technologies across many industries. In the field of tug operations removing such tasks from the crew’s workload allows in Sea Machines’ words ‘personnel to focus on higher-level operations.’ Its SM300 system on the 90tbp Rachael Foss includes transit autonomy and remote access to the vessel’s machinery allowing support operations to be managed from onboard or ashore. The transit autonomy element includes navigational obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities. The installation and supporting hardware has been fully integrated from new but its capabilities are being activated in stepped phases over six to nine months to ensure full visibility and acceptance from all operational stakeholders.

The remote command and control capabilities will use Foss’s existing Fleet Monitoring Centre personnel to monitor the vessel’s systems and operating domain via streaming video and sensor data. It is stated this extra set of eyes and hands will allow Foss along with the tug’s crew to maximise productive time, safety and crew welfare.

Noting its previous record with such technology and highlighting the contract’s significance within its own country Michael G Johnson, founder and CEO of Sea Machines states: “We are pleased that Foss is leveraging Sea Machines’ proven autonomy systems on their newest boat for routine harbour operations. And while our space has seen a number of government innovation backed prototype initiatives for autonomous tugs in Europe, Japan and Singapore, it’s notable that Foss is launching the first commercially funded project in US waters. Our technology has been in use aboard commercial vessels around the world for nearly three years and is backed up by thousands of hours of testing and validation.”