Digital technologies from automation firm ABB robotics have supported the Maju 510 vessel to receive autonomous and remote-control navigation notation from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
It is also the first Singapore-flagged vessel to receive the smart (autonomous) notation from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The notations were awarded for the tug’s demonstration of autonomous collision avoidance capabilities in trials conducted at Raffles Reserved Anchorage, which is located off Singapore Island, in March 2022.
Keppel Offshore and Marine (Keppel O&M) is the project lead for the autonomous solutions on the Maju 510, which is owned and operated by Keppel Smit Towage.
The most recent trials were designed to further test the vessel’s autonomous capabilities, such as automated situational awareness, collision avoidance and manoeuvring control provided by ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision and Marine Pilot Control. The trials were supervised by an onboard tug master.
The automation technology was designed to let the ship’s crew focus on an overall situation rather than performing specific manoeuvres.
According to ABB, the systems can be upgraded to increase the vessel’s level of autonomy, depending on local regulations and vessel requirements.
“As the systems integrator, Keppel O&M collaborated with ABB on customising the autonomous solutions to enhance the vessel’s operational safety and efficiency,” said Aziz Merchant, executive director at Keppel O&M.
“By liberating the crew of time- and energy-consuming tasks and improving accuracy during critical manoeuvres, our autonomous solution has proven its ability to increase safety in even the busiest of ports.
“The autonomous solutions are future-ready to handle the growing demand of tug operations in Singapore port.
“Through digitalisation, enhanced connectivity, and integrating ABB’s technology, we are able to generate high accuracy positioning and manoeuvring, with AI engines for marine object recognition and classification.”
ABB claims that many marine vessels could benefit from a higher level of automation for improved safety, efficiency and sustainability of operations.
