The Finnish Transport Agency will begin testing intelligent fairways at the start of 2017, using several fairways along its Finnish coast as test platforms.
Aiming to make navigation saver and more efficient, the intelligent fairways are able to inform mariners about the prevailing conditions and vessel movements in the fairway.
Anne Berner, minister of transport and communications of Finland, said: "Finland is a forerunner of digital vessel services, we will do our best to stay at the forefront of the digitalisation development.”
She added: "We have invested in good communication links, information security, open data access, and we want to ensure, among other things, that interactive ecosystems promoting intelligent robotics and automation are created in Finland."
Latest weather reports and forecasts will be transmitted directly to the navigation bridge systems of vessels approaching an intelligent fairway. Aids to navigation in the intelligent fairways will adapt to the conditions and vessel movements in the fairway.
The tests combine real-time water level data and forecasts with a precise three-dimensional model of the seabed.
This data makes it possible to plan the loading of the vessel to fit the prevailing conditions. This enables loading of more cargo at high water, which improves transport efficiency.
When the shape of the seabed, the relative depths and the ship characteristics, are known, it is possible to estimate vessel behaviour in the prevailing or forecasted conditions.
The testing of the intelligent fairways will take two years, and include the testing and piloting of the digital services and real-time situational pictures in both the vessel's own systems and in the systems used by the Vessel Traffic Services.
Minister Berner concluded: "Testing of intelligent fairways is a great leap towards autonomous vessel traffic, based on intelligent automation. In my view, intelligent automation is the key to enhancing maritime safety, reducing emissions and improving productivity.”
By Alice Mason
