SHIP INTELLIGENCE

Rolls-Royce is playing a central role in new test areas in and Finland, where MAP KEY autonomous ships are rigorously tested to ensure ultimate safety and performance Wind measurement  Oceanographic measurement throughout the water column

Noise measurement

 Navigation sensors for autonomous underwater vehicles Under the Fish farms microscope  Test area LQ;H -;H6 he technology for QLQH unmanned autonomous STORFJORDEN “...the ships already exists. But TEST AREA before they become part of question Teveryday maritime operations, the systems need to be tested at length is, how far in an authentic marine environment, and in a variety of sea conditions. To ensure systems function we can go in correctly and reliably, and that required safety standards can be met, 110 the direction test areas for autonomous commercial km long vessel trials have now been of unmanned established in Norway and Finland. The Finnish test area – named vessels?” Jaakonmeri after the late Dr Jaakko Talvitie, one of the pioneers of open Jann Peter Strand marine test areas – is managed and controlled by Digital, Internet, Materials & Engineering Co-Creation 14 (DIMECC), which is behind the One shipyards Sea Autonomous Maritime Ecosystem. nearby Founded in 2016, One Sea is a Cargotec, Ericsson, Meyer Turku, there is little risk of accident. Already Technology’s Centre for Autonomous are taking the lead,” said Kongsberg unmanned ships on the market, and consortium of industry partners, all Tieto and Wärtsilä, with the project opened officially, other companies Marine Operations (NTNU AMOS) Seatex President Gard Ueland. “We Rolls-Royce has been among the working in the field of autonomous supported by the Association of with Norwegian bases have used it and the Norwegian government. “As will see technology that has the driving forces for the new agreement. marine traffic. As a founding partner, Finnish Marine Industries and Finnish to test new robotic and autonomous far as we know, there are no other potential to enable fully autonomous “Trondheimsfjorden and JAAKONMERI Rolls-Royce is joined by ABB, funding agency TEKES. technologies, including Kongsberg test sites of this kind in the world, so cargo vessels. Much will come from Storfjorden are both well located TEST AREA The Jaakonmeri test area, on the Seatex and Maritime Robotics. the Norwegian coastal authorities Trondheim, thanks to the unmatched near important technology lakes,” Finnish west coast off the municipality “Technology for remote-controlled maritime expertise here and our says Asbjørn Skaro, Director of Deck 20 of Eurajoki, is open to all companies, solutions on shipping already exists, autonomous vehicle testbed.” Machinery and Systems, Rolls-Royce. shipping research institutes and others wishing the question is how far we can go in NORWEGIAN CONSORTIUM The Norwegian Maritime “In Trondheim, we work closely companies to test autonomous technology. the direction of unmanned vessels, Directorate has recently nominated a with NTNU and other companies nearby According to DIMECC, it will have and the types of ships it is most second area for testing autonomous on research and development. In excellent data connectivity, and offers suitable for,” says Jann Peter Strand, ■■ Ålesund Region Port Authority ships, signing a deal with the Coastal Ålesund, we have a lot of simulators open water test conditions, with Product Manager for Automation and ■■ Fiskerstrand Verft Administration and an industry for new technology, with the Storfjord 17.85 opportunities for ice testing during Control, Rolls-Royce Marine. ■■ Fjord1 consortium (left) enabling Storfjorden area located just outside the window,” km long the winter. It expects the first test “We gather knowledge in many ■■ Havila Shipping and several side harbours to be used. In the UK, part of the Solent area LEFT: The programme to begin in spring 2018. areas. While the technology is ■■ Havyard Group Storfjorden is close to 14 shipyards is being developed by BAE Systems world’s first remotely Rolls-Royce also intends to carry developed largely in Norway, it is ■■ Inmarsat Solutions and 20 shipping companies, several to provide the UK’s first dedicated operated out autonomous ship trials in the gratifying to see the Norwegian ■■ Kleven Maritime of which already carry out sea test service. Although concentrating vessel was Norwegian . The test area in research, and the authorities are ■■ NTNU in Ålesund trials. The trials will use data from on military applications, testing unveiled in Trondheim is about 150 miles hopeful we can test our solutions ■■ Offshore Simulator Centre a range of sensors for measuring and demonstrating air vehicles and Copenhagen ■ last year south-east of our new remote fleet in Norwegian waters.” ■ Rolls-Royce wind and power conditions, set up in unmanned boats, this is a notable management centre in Ålesund. The Trondheim test site, which ■■ Skipsteknisk connection with planning for a new development. The Solent area is a 7.10 The fjord offers wide, open includes part of Trondheim Harbour, ■■ Hamnevesen KF bridge between Sulesund and . heavily-trafficked waterway, used by km wide ■ By Patrik Wheater waters similar to a small sea, but with is a partnership between the ■ Ulstein Group The Directorate says it wants pleasure boats as well as warships, relatively low shipping traffic, so Norwegian University of Science and ■■ Vard Group Norway to be the first flag state with ferries, cruise and cargo vessels. l

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